Semiquincentennial Of Declaration Of Independence July 4

Brilliant Messages Of Unity On Semiquincentennial Anniversary By Pope Leo XIV And NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani!

Ronald 1 Comment

At a time when Donald Trump is feverishly working to divide America, on its Semiquincentennial Anniversary, two true “statesmen” spoke of the “better angels” of America, and promoted tolerance and appreciation of the role of immigrants in the success of the American story over 250 years.

Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, demonstrated how statesmanlike both of them are, and give Americans who care about decency and open mindedness a sense that despite the divisiveness promoted by Donald Trump, that there is hope for revival of the American belief in Democracy and the Rule of Law.

Commemoration Of Bicentennial Anniversary Of Passing Of Founding Fathers Thomas Jefferson And John Adams

Ronald 9 Comments

On this Semiquincentennial Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, it is also notable that it is the Bicentennial Anniversary of the passing of two Founding Fathers, who collaborated on the Declaration of Independence; then became dire political “enemies”; and then reestablished fast friendship by letters until they jointly passed away on July 4, 1826.

Thomas Jefferson passed away early on the 50th Anniversary, and John Adams died in the evening, uttering the statement: “Thomas Jefferson still survives”, not accurate, but an indication of their closeness and collaboration on the Declaration of Independence and the establishment of a new nation.

Interestingly, the 5th President, James Monroe, died on the Fourth of July five years later, in 1831, making three of the first five Presidents and “Founding Fathers”, who died on that most significant national holiday.

On The SemiQuincentennial Anniversary Of America, A Salute To Immigration Which Is The Nation’s Lifeblood Long Term!

Ronald 1 Comment

Here we are, on America’s Semiquincentennial Anniversary, and the immediate thought that comes to mind is that America is what it is today, the greatest experiment in democracy in world history, and so much of it due to IMMIGRATION, from all over the world.

In the past, there was discrimination and prejudice against Irish and German immigrants in the 1840s-1850s; the Jewish and Italian and Polish immigrants in the 1870s-1920s; Asian immigration and Hispanic immigration through most of American history; and Middle Eastern and African immigrants in recent decades.

But through all of the ups and downs of immigration history, it was such immigrants of all stripes and backgrounds who contributed mightily to American progress, and made the nation a better place.

We live in a time of overt racism and nativism, but the nation will, over time, get past this.

When one studies the history of immigration, one finds a primarily “welcoming” attitude overall by Presidents of all political persuasions until the 1880s-1890s; again in the 1920s and early 1930s; and again since the rise of Donald Trump.

The Presidents most negative toward immigration include:

Chester Alan Arthur, Grover Cleveland, Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley, William Howard Taft, Woodrow Wilson, Warren G. Harding, Calvin Coolidge, Herbert Hoover, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Donald Trump.

Notice with the exception of Grover Cleveland and Woodrow Wilson (who were Democrats), all of the remaining 9 nativist Presidents were Republicans.

At the same time, Republicans, such as Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, and George W. Bush were very open minded and tolerant on immigration.

While immigration is a negative right now under Donald Trump, one can be quite assured that in the long run, the role and contributions of immigrants will, once again, triumph in the post Donald Trump years.

America Has The Most Corrupt And Abusive Presidency In Its 250 Year History, Undermining The Celebration Of The Semiquincentennial

Ronald 27 Comments

Tomorrow, July 4, is the 250th (Semiquincentennial) Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, establishing a Republic and condemning Monarchy.

Now, tragically, America and the world face the most corrupt, unethical, immoral, and abusive Presidency in its history, with the threats well established of the damages and danger Donald Trump and his sycophants have brought to undermine American domestic and foreign policy.

The revelation of Trump’s unprecedented enrichment as President, more than $2 billion in the first year of his second term, while tens of millions of Americans have lost their health care;

have faced mounting economic hardship;

have confronted pure racism, nativism, misogyny, and promotion of extremist Christian white supremacy nationalism;

have faced arrest and prosecution without the protection of the Bill of Rights;

have faced the danger of illegal obstruction of the upcoming elections for Congress in 2026 and the Presidency in 2028;

faced the undermining of a multitude of government agencies and endangering American democracy, the rule of law, and national security and international alliances;

and so many other violations of law, morals, ethics, and constitutional norms that it is impossible to list all of them in a brief essay.

NO President or his administration comes close to the level of corruption, malfeasance, immorality, and lack of ethics of Donald Trump.

The most corrupt administration before Donald Trump is clearly Richard Nixon.

And there were disgraceful evidence of corruption also in other Presidencies—specifically, in chronological order:

Ulysses S. Grant
Warren G. Harding
Ronald Reagan
George W. Bush

with all of these Presidents being Republicans in party affiliation.

But none of these Presidents, other than Nixon, were so personally involved in scandals, while presiding over them, and therefore, having to be criticized and condemned for the people who served under them who engaged in abuses of power.

Even Richard Nixon, as much as he was horrendous in so many ways, accomplished some major positives, and knew when it was time to resign, and had a Republican Party who forced his hand, unlike the 2026 Republican Party which is unwilling to take action against the abuses and corruption that mounts daily.

This major historical moment, while very much in the midst of negative and horrible events, must be a clarion call for all decent Americans to resist the movement toward Fascism and acceptance of a new Monarchy, which was rejected in 1776, and must be vehemently opposed in very way imaginable in the coming weeks, months, and years!

No Posting For About A Week, As Visiting Philadelphia To Celebrate SemiQuinCentennial Anniversary Of Declaration Of Independence!

Ronald 96 Comments

This author, scholar, and blogger will not be posting for about a week, as I will be visiting Philadelphia, where I have been before, but not for more than a decade, to celebrate the upcoming Semiquincentennial Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, officially taking place on July 4, 2026.

Among the sites to be visited are Independence National Historical Park, the Liberty Bell, the National Constitution Center, and the Museum of the American Revolution, but also other historic sites in a city, Philadelphia, much underrated as a great tourist city.

This author and blogger is well aware that a lot can happen, much of it likely regrettable, but upon return, commentary on events and personalities will resume.