In our view, July 4: The Spirit of July

We’ll give him credit for his abilities as a statesman, but John Adams never would have made it as a prognosticator. "The Second Day of July 1776," the second president of the United States once wrote to his wife, "will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America."

And while we scramble for our dictionary to look up "Epocha," let’s allow Adams to continue: "I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more."

Adams wrote this to Abigail on July 3, 1776, presumably when July 2, 1776, was a little fresher in the memory. And presumably a time when Shews (shows), Guns and Bells were the hallmarks of one hellacious party.

So we’ll cut him some slack on this.

Adams missed his prediction by two days. Instead of celebrating the Second of July — the day when Congress voted to declare independence — Americans reserve the bonfires and explosive illuminations for the Fourth of July. That is the anniversary of when the document was actually adopted, ostensibly freeing the Colonies from their British oppressors.

And, in a way, it is rather appropriate for there to be some debate over whether July 2 or July 4 is the more memorable day. The importance of the epoch cannot be distilled to one particular moment or one particular day. The significance of the event cannot be distilled to a single act, but rather must be defined by its timeless meaning and idealism.

The Declaration of Independence, as adopted on July 4, gives us these words that ring true today: "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."

Now, when it comes to turning a phrase, Thomas Jefferson hit the jackpot with "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." Not many seven-word slogans can remain so keenly relevant and ingrained deep in the popular vernacular more than 200 years after they were penned.

Whether Americans spend today celebrating those exact words or merely setting off firecrackers, it is important to remember the meaning behind them.

In past centuries, the idea that all men are created equal, that humans had certain unalienable rights, was rather revolutionary. Even today, as the people of Iran protest the results of a national election, and the citizens of Iraq fear violent chaos, and the residents of Honduras endure a military takeover of their government, those words from our Declaration of Independence must never be taken for granted. They are too powerful and too important to be reduced to simply hot dog eating contests, retail bargains and baseball games.

As Adams wrote in his letter to Abigail: "Time has been given for the People, maturely to consider the great Question of Independence and to ripen their judgments, dissipate their Fears, and allure their Hopes."

Few documents in recorded human history have done so much to ripen judgments and dissipate fears as the Declaration of Independence. Few moments of clarity have done so much to alter the course of world history and empower the people to pursue their own definition of happiness.

Some 233 years later, all of that remains worthy of celebration — no matter which day we choose to recognize it.