Vote Yes in 1776

  

In the 80s, some amazing musicals were on stage.  Amazing is probably not a big enough word. We loved many of them.

 Our favorite remains so to this day---

1776

There were so many issues to be ironed out in those wobbly days of The Colonies and the Revolutionary War. Those issues that were shelved and the Declaration of Independence was shredded, redacted and pasted back together. 

The key section that affected the stuttering of the passing on the Declaration was the one that addressed slavery.  The South were vehemently, violently against this section.  Only if the section about slavery was edited out would they agree to pass the Declaration. John Collum (Northern Exposure) ripped this song, making this an even more intense issue.

 

                                        The dialogue below is from the musical

Edward Rutledge : [In the final vote for Independence, Rutledge wants the slavery clause removed from the Declaration, or else he will vote against independence] Well, Mr. Adams?

John Adams : Well, Mr. Rutledge.

Edward Rutledge : [stands] Mr. Adams, you must believe that I *will* do what I promised to do.

John Adams : [stands and approaches him] What is it you want, Rutledge?

Edward Rutledge : Remove the offending passage from your Declaration.

John Adams : If we did that, we would be guilty of what we ourselves are rebelling against.

Edward Rutledge : Nevertheless... remove it, or South Carolina will bury, now and forever, your dream of independence.

Dr. Benjamin Franklin : John? I beg you consider what you're doing.

John Adams : Mark me, Franklin... if we give in on this issue, posterity will never forgive us.

Dr. Benjamin Franklin : That's probably true, but we won't hear a thing, we'll be long gone. Besides, what would posterity think we were? Demi-gods? We're men, no more no less, trying to get a nation started against greater odds than a more generous God would have allowed. First things first, John. Independence; America. If we don't secure that, what difference will the rest make?

John Adams : [long pause] Jefferson, say something.

Thomas Jefferson : What else is there to do?

John Adams : Well, man, you're the one that wrote it.

Thomas Jefferson : I *wrote* ALL of it, Mr. Adams.

[stands and goes to the Declaration, crosses out the clause]

John Adams : [snatches the paper from Jefferson and takes it to Rutledge] There you are, Rutlege, you have your slavery; little good may it do you, now VOTE, damn you!

Edward Rutledge : [takes the paper] Mr. President, the fair colony of South Carolina...

[looks at Adams]

Edward Rutledge : ... says yea.

 

 All the "if only's" of history could have changed the course of history.

What say you?

The Eagle in the Sky

 

YouTube, about 3 min. long from"1776" movie, which is

excellent. 

Viewing bald eagles from ground level, we can see how impressive they are from that perspective.  But, to see more and closer?  

4 to 10 feet diameter, 2 to 9 feet deep

identifying

Mississippi River

During bitter winters, eagles migrate down to a stretch of river from Iowa down to Alton, Illinois. We could watch hundreds of eagles on the ice and trees from our Illinois side of the river. It is impressive.

on the Mississippi River

One November, we watched these magnificent creatures soar over the River while we followed their flight from inside a restaurant. The temperature outside had been about 30 degrees when we went inside; it was 10 deg. when we left an hour or two later.

Birds are fascinating creatures.  One cannot see and watch a bird fly without realizing how amazing they are. One blogger who writes about this is David Gascoigne, and his photos are exquisite. He has an eye for somehow capturing their beauty.

Look up to the sky! Focus on the stars, clouds, and birds. You might see an eagle sometime.

Female eagles are larger than the male. Females measure 3 feet from tip to tail; wingspan is around 7 feet (90 in.); and, weight is 10 to 14 pounds.