The Regimen of Our Barbarous Ancestors

I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and constitutions, but laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors.

Thomas Jefferson, as quoted and inscribed on the Jefferson Memorial,

Washington, D.C. 

Say it with Firecrackers

Watch THIS for some fun --

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Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man and his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should 'make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,' thus building a wall of separation between Church and State ... 

--Thomas Jefferson

In these days of strident Christianity, I like to think that this is what our troops are fighting for --

Enjoy this:

Fourth of July, 2002

Happy Fourth of July!