Independence Day, on Dispatch from the Razor's Edge

(Two Independence Days On)

"It is not the critic who counts, nor the man who points out where the strong man stumbled, or where a doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man in the arena whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs, and who comes up short again and again, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause. The man who at best knows the triumph of high achievement and who at worst, if he fails, fails while daring greatly, so that his place will never be with those cold timid souls who never knew victory or defeat."
- Teddy Roosevelt

"America is an optimistic country because that's where the optimists went."
- unknown

Happy 228th birthday, United States of America (from an American abroad).

As previously noted, America – the only nation-state ever founded on the basis of a philosophy – is not a place nor a people, but a set of principles and ideals. Thus, one takes America along wherever one goes. I've also recently seen put forth the idea that Amercia has always struggled, and so often failed, to live up to its own principles. But America is all about trying eventually to get it right – which is one reason why I have such a soft spot for the place. I fail and fall short so often, but try never to lose my faith that I will eventually get it right.

And that – the striving and failing and trying again and finally getting it right – is also why I'm now able to offer my congratulations and best wishes to all of our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters, who for the first time in our nation's history have the civil right to marry. (In one state only – but it's a great start!) And it is also why the U.S. Supreme Court was able to overrule and reign in the Bush administration by deciding that suspected terrorists must be allowed access to the American justice system to contest their detention. (*) And it is why we can all now – despite so many dire missteps – look forward to seeing the people of a free Iraq celebrate their own Independence Day, for years to come. God bless and Godspeed to them all.

And, oh – happy 2nd anniversary, Dispatch from the Razor's Edge.

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Dispatch from the Razor's Edge is owned and operated by novelist, technologist, vegan, exercise junkie, classical liberal, rambler, and Londoner Michael Stephen Fuchs.

Fuchs is the author of the novels The Manuscript and Pandora's Sisters, both published worldwide by Macmillan in hardback, paperback and all e-book formats (and in translation); the D-Boys series of high-tech, high-concept, spec-ops military adventure novels – D-Boys, Counter-Assault, and Close Quarters Battle (coming in 2016); and is co-author, with Glynn James, of the bestselling Arisen series of special-operations military ZA novels. The second nicest thing anyone has ever said about his work was: "Fuchs seems to operate on the narrative principle of 'when in doubt put in a firefight'." (Kirkus Reviews, more here.)

Fuchs was born in New York; schooled in Virginia (UVa); and later emigrated to the San Francisco Bay Area, where he lived through the dot-com boom. Subsequently he decamped for an extended period of tramping before finally rocking up in London, where he now makes his home. He does a lot of travel blogging, most recently of some very long walks around the British Isles. He's been writing and developing for the web since 1994 and shows no particularly hopeful signs of stopping.

You can reach him on .

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Dispatch from the Razor's Edge is owned and operated by novelist, technologist, vegan, exercise junkie, classical liberal, rambler, and Londoner Michael Stephen Fuchs.


2023 >> 2022 >> 2021 >> 2020 >> 2019 >> 2018 >> 2017 >> 2016 >> 2015 >> 2014 >> 2013 >> 2012 >> 2011 >> 2010 >> 2009 >> 2008 >> 2007 >> 2006 >> 2005 >> 2004-12-22 2004-12-21 2004-12-01 2004-11-26 2004-11-25 2004-11-24 2004-11-22 2004-11-11 2004-10-21 2004-10-14 2004-10-13 2004-10-05 2004-08-30 2004-07-14 2004-07-04 2004-06-27 2004-06-24 2004-06-20 2004-05-24 2004-05-01 2004-04-23 2004-04-22 2004-04-12 2004-03-31 2004-03-21 2004-03-16 2004-03-14 2004-03-11 2004-01-25 2004-01-11 2003 >> 2002 >>	2004.07.04 : Independence Day (Two Independence Days On) "It is not the critic who counts, nor the man who points out where the strong man stumbled, or where a doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man in the arena whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs, and who comes up short again and again, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause. The man who at best knows the triumph of high achievement and who at worst, if he fails, fails while daring greatly, so that his place will never be with those cold timid souls who never knew victory or defeat." - Teddy Roosevelt "America is an optimistic country because that's where the optimists went." - unknown Happy 228th birthday, United States of America (from an American abroad). As previously noted, America – the only nation-state ever founded on the basis of a philosophy – is not a place nor a people, but a set of principles and ideals. Thus, one takes America along wherever one goes. I've also recently seen put forth the idea that Amercia has always struggled, and so often failed, to live up to its own principles. But America is all about trying eventually to get it right – which is one reason why I have such a soft spot for the place. I fail and fall short so often, but try never to lose my faith that I will eventually get it right. And that – the striving and failing and trying again and finally getting it right – is also why I'm now able to offer my congratulations and best wishes to all of our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters, who for the first time in our nation's history have the civil right to marry. (In one state only – but it's a great start!) And it is also why the U.S. Supreme Court was able to overrule and reign in the Bush administration by deciding that suspected terrorists must be allowed access to the American justice system to contest their detention. () And it is why we can all now – despite so many dire missteps – look forward to seeing the people of a free Iraq celebrate their own Independence Day, for years to come. God bless and Godspeed to them all. And, oh – happy 2nd anniversary, Dispatch from the Razor's Edge. A philosophy that generally encompasses consensual government (via elective representative democracy), equal justice under the law (ensured by an independent judiciary), far-reaching civil liberties (based on a notion of the inalienable rights of humankind), establishment of free markets (in both goods and ideas), and strong protections for freedom of expression, religion, and political redress; but which can also nicely be summed up in the six words ". . . with liberty and justice for all." (hide)* And don't get me wrong: it's more the principles, than the place or the people or the culture, of which I'm so fond. God knows I have my issues with such characteristic aspects as eating at McDonalds, driving cars and trucks everywhere, watching television, wearing trousers hanging halfway down the bum, and going to Europe in unforgiveable outfits and being very loud and annoying and uncouth. But those characteristics are incidental and changeable, where the principles are (if we look after them) essential and enduring. To be an American, I think, ultimately, is to sign on to ideals of human freedom and equality – as well as a flawed and faltering process of trying to realize them. (hide) Please take a moment if you care to and urge your Senators and Congressperson to oppose the horrific and un-American Federal Marriage Amendment, which would actually inscribe bigotry (i.e. discrimination against, and second-class citizenship for, a specific minority group) into our nation's highest statment of human equality and equal justice under the law. (hide) "The very core of liberty secured by our Anglo-Saxon system of separated powers," wrote Justice Antonin Scalia in agreement with the majority, "has been freedom from indefinite imprisonment at the will of the executive." (hide) Tweet iraq gay civil rights america american independence day dftre freedom ← before \| contribute comment ↓ \| after →