Click the image above to go to the National Archives page. I particularly like this page with the original rough draft showing cross outs and corrections made by John Adams and Benjamin Franklin.

What a great day to remember what a great country we live in! I remember arguing with a Swede over the concept of patriotism. He was contemptuous of the idea, of course. After all, he had nothing to be proud of since his presence in his country was just an accident of birth, as it is with most of us. But that misses the point -- of course no one today was alive when the nation was founded and so we share only limited credit -- but the point is not to screw it up! It's our job to keep it going, pass it on to the next generation, and exercise a little civic responsibility -- something that encompasses a practical collection of stuff from not littering to loving they neighbor. [All this excludes those serving in the military, who certainly do contribute even more directly to the perpetuation of the ideal...but try explaining that to the average Swede -- with apologies to any extraordinary Swedes who may read this.]

I'm off to a cookout.

Update before I scram: Michelle has a round-up of links, from which, this: