A Blast from the Past Heard 'Round the World

Happy Independence Day!  This is the day when we remember phrases written in the Declaration of Independence, like:

"Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed."

Freedom from tyranny - such a novel idea.  

Well, here's a bit of fun from the recent past to rekindle the waning patriotic fire.  A few years ago, I taught an American History class.  I'm copying from a January 12, 202 post to those students:

This morning we started with a video.  That video has a long story, so stay with me as we move through pop culture and then back to American history.  If you stayed up to watch the New Year's ceremonies, you may have seen the celebration in Disney World in Orlando, FL.  One Republic played a song called "Too Late to Apologize," a song about a guy breaking up with a girl (kinda a sad song for New Year's, huh?).   

Well, Timberland got ahold of the song awhile back and remixed it, producing this, a much better music video than the original.  That video inspired a company called Soomo Publishing, who decided it was perfect to express the sentiment of the founding fathers.  Now we are back to discussing U.S. History, and here is the video:

Lyrics:
And we're standing on new ground
Screaming 'cross the waves
You can't hear a sound
There's no fair trials, no trade, no liberties
No tea
We've colonized America; we won't stand for tyranny,
Oh king 

And it's too late to apologize
It's too late
I said it's too late to apologize
It's too late 

We've paid your foolish tax, read the acts
And they just won't do
We want to make it clear, we believe this much is true
All men were created with certain
Unalienable rights
Among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit
Of happiness 

And it's too late to apologize
It's too late
I said It's too late to apologize
It's too late 

It's too late to apologize
It's too late
I said it's too late apologize
It's too late 

I said it's too late to apologize, yeah
It's too late
I said it's too late to apologize, yeah 

Halfway across the globe
And we're standing on new ground

Of course, it's not simply the patriotic fire that Christians need. We ultimately look to a better country than America could ever be.  Moreover, Christians wrestle with the morality of the very founding of this nation.  Well, here are a couple of posts on the American Revolution that you might find helpful in thinking through the holiday in general:

• Was the American Revolution biblical?
• Was the American Revolution sinful? (Better)
• One Nation Under God? 

See, lots of reason for nostalgia.  Now, go have fun with your kids today and try not to think about how our country... Ooh!  Fireworks! S'mores!  Enjoy.