On the unknown road, who, more faithless?

It's Thor's day . . . and the mailbox at my little cottage in Wokestan, U.S.A. is filled with freedom reminders and examples.

Today is the 4th of July when we Americans celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. That declaration, the very foundation of our democracy,made clear one thing, if nothing else: We will never accept a King ... at any cost,

Kirk Swearingen this very morning is flying an American flag – properly upright – in protest this 4th of July.

Examples and reminders of the gifts of freedom

Birthdays yesterday: Franz Kafka, was born in 1883 Prague; and British playwright and screenplay writer Tom Stoppard was born in 1937 Zlin, Czechoslovakia

In 1855, Walt Whitman first published, Leaves of Grass.

In 1845 Essayist and philosopher Henry David Thoreau moved to his retreat and began writing at Walden Pond.

In 1865 Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland was first published

140 years ago on this day in 1884 Paris, The Statue of Liberty was presented to the United States' ambassador by the French.

Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, died 180 years ago today in 1826, – 50 years to the day after the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.

The road unknown

Resuming, marching, ever in darkness marching, on in the ranks,
The unknown road still marching ….

Oh me! Oh life! of the questions of these recurring,
Of the endless trains of the faithless, of cities fill’d with the foolish,
Of myself forever reproaching myself, (for who more foolish than I, and who more faithless?)…

The question, O me! so sad, recurring—What good amid these, O me, O life?

Answer.
That you are here—that life exists and identity,
That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.

– Walt Whitman, Leave of Grass, in the public domain