Photohunt: Pointed

The photohunt theme this week is pointed. My first thought, since this theme falls on the weekend of the fourth of July, was the pointed statements made by the authors of the United States Declaration of Independence which was adopted by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776.
Since it's hard to illustrate a pointed text, I thought I would show the flag pole pointed up towards the sky. The American flag on a pointed flag pole means different things to different people. Much as patriotism means different things to different people.
Part of what I love about my country is that it was founded with principals which included the right to protest and the right of the governed to have a say in the government. There have certainly been people (indeed entire races and genders) whose rights were not upheld during the history of my country. However, I think that the principles laid out in the declaration of independence set a standard for equality which eventually would lead us closer to living up to the promise of the words.
For me being patriotic can mean supporting our country by speaking up when we think our duly elected officials are making major mistakes. I hope I am not being too pointed when I say that I love my country and honor our flag but sometimes I emphatically disagree with the President and Commander in Chief. I am glad to have the privilege to cast my vote which I always do. I am grateful to have the right to shoot off my mouth with pointed comments which I often do.
I think it is possible to support our military women and men by speaking out when we don't agree with them being put into harms way in specific conflicts. I believe that we can honor their sacrifices while disagreeing with the Commander in Chief. To me the anniversary of when the Declaration of Independence was adopted seems an appropriate time to make these pointed comments. So I'll end this with some of the pointed remarks which are in the preamble to the Declaration of Independence.

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, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government,and to provide new Guards for their future security.

For all the flaws my country has had and in spite of an imperfect history (as is the history of all people), I get goosebumps when I read the preamble to the Declaration of Independence. Not only is it pointed, there are a lot of great concepts in those words.

I hope everyone who celebrates it has/had a Happy Independence Day and I hope everyone has a great weekend.

PhotoHunt

PhotoHunt