Happy 4th of July 2015 — Freedom to Ski Tour!

Declaration of Independence, U.S. Government Archive image.

Hey readers worldwide, we’re celebrating our U.S. Independence holiday this weekend. “The 4th” is the day we adopted our “Declaration of Independence,” declaring our intent to be a sovereign nation instead of vassals to England. Hard to believe that in 1776 we were subjugated by an occupying army of “Red Coats,” and that something like 35,000 Brits sailed into New York City after pen hit the paper of the Declaration. Our revolutionary war ensued, and the last of the British didn’t leave New York till around 1783 — signifying the end of the conflict.

Yeah, it took a while for us to get closer to the ideals we presented in the Declaration, and we’re still working on perfection. Nonetheless, to even have this poetically worded document as foundational to our culture is in my opinion nothing less than a stunner.

How does it all relate to ski touring? In one sense any recreation is frivolous when it comes to issues such as freedom from tyranny. On the other hand, modern civilization such as that of North America, EU, Scandinavia and others produces a bounty of productivity — thus yielding the time and freedom for our dreams. It’s all a work in progress and the setbacks are heart breaking. Yet overall, I take the positive view that freedom marches and will prevail.

So, happy 4th everyone!

The first couple of paragraphs:

IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

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…

Full transcript here.

And here is a take on the Declaration from a “global perspective.”

7 Responses to “Happy 4th of July 2015 — Freedom to Ski Tour!”

1. Joe John July 4th, 2015 11:11 am

   I always learn something at Wildsnow. 🙂 Have a great 4th of July.

2. Mac July 5th, 2015 9:14 pm

   Really? Do you think the British in Virgina thought of themselves as ‘vassals of England’ or that they were ‘subjucated’ or ‘occupied’ by their own army?

   Don’t get me wrong, I’ve worked and fought along side Americans for over a decade and have a great deal of respect for the US, but fantisist, revisionist statements like the one above read more like the conspirasit rants around the US Arm’ys Jade Helm exercise in Texas!

   Happy Independance day (and God save the Queen),

   Regards,

   Mac

3. Nick Davies July 5th, 2015 10:45 pm

   Lou, I wish you and everyone a Happy Independence Day from Canada (no sorry, from King George ????) as a former Brit and now citizen of Canada. However, there were a lot of folks in NA at the time who didn’t fancy the idea of breaking away from the Crown. The fact that we can live together now as neighbours is a great strength, despite Keystone, but that’s just a hiccup in the road as politicians only last for four or so years thank God.

4. ptor July 5th, 2015 11:09 pm

   Too bad the crown still runs Turtle Island. We been jipped!

5. Lou Dawson 2 July 6th, 2015 6:50 am

   Good to get you guys having a take! Things were a little different back then… Lou

6. swissiphic July 6th, 2015 2:32 pm

   A fellow Canuck wishing a belated happy 4th.

   Never mind the pending “Reappropriate the panhandle” campaign British Columbia skiers and mountaineers are about to launch. We want ALL of Devil’s Thumb, Mount Fairweather, Mount Saint Elias and Wrangell/St. Elias Park!

   And look out Albertans: “Reassimilate the Rockies” is coming your way! You can keep the foot hills. 😉

7. Lou Dawson 2 July 6th, 2015 3:36 pm

   Hah!