When in the course of human events...

...it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands...

It's been painted.

And documented. And quoted.

My favorite part is:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed..."

We celebrate these words every single year.

But dare I ask - do we really understand the words? Isn't it ironic that securing freedom for all is not open to all?

This Fourth of July, let's consider the true cost of "freedom for most." Beyond spilled blood and loss of life, our democracy is greatly strengthened by acknowledging our mutual dependency and "officially" tolerating those who are different from us.

So it's 2009 already and we're still seeing some patriots kicked to the curb despite the fact that they are still willing to fight.

The steady daily drumbeat of bigotry leveled against our gay soldiers is shameful.

You know the old litany: "we love those sinners....' but because of my rigid personal religion, you (gays, liberals, whatever) simply cannot have the same choices and basic rights that the rest of us enjoy.....ad nauseam."

For Pete's sake, this brave and amazing document we celebrate was written 233 years ago - and still a majority of Americans disregard it. In the ideal Democracy of course, the majority makes the rules that protect all of us.

But change is coming and not a minute too soon. It is time to grow-up and drop that intolerant "don't ask - don't tell policy."

Granting legal equal rights for any two loving adults, anywhere in this country, who wish to marry is a giant step toward a stronger and more tolerant democracy.

Wrapped in the flag and still thumping a Bible - will we continue to allow the hateful ones among us to dominate our airwaves & dictate our votes with their brand of "morality?"

So many of our elected leaders say one thing and yet take money to do quite another. They've used their considerable power of office to do do us all a world of bad.

Waiting for the polls to open in my hometown of Peterborough, NH, we give thanks that a group of dedicated patriots 233 years ago, handed us the power to vote the bums out of office.

Government isn't the problem - but only a strong and tolerant government is, in fact, the solution.

So from the bottom of my very liberal heart, please ponder these important issues and have a grand 4th of July anyhow.

So as Americans, let's rethink who and what we stand for. In the spirit of that 233 year old Declaration, let's demand equality and justice for ALL Americans and celebrate the passage of those overdue freedoms by this time next year.

So call me opinionated - but wouldn't that be nice?