Like so many others, I was consumed with the musical “Hamilton” a couple of years ago. It really brought home a couple of insights to me.
One of the lyrics was “Look around at how lucky we are to be alive right now – history is happening.“ It shook me (again!) into remembering that all history was once a “now,” and – conversely – that NOW is history in the making.
The other point that was driven home is that the “Founding Fathers” were not unanimous in their viewpoints. The tendency is to speak of them as if they were all wise, clear in the implications of their actions, and in lock step in their ideals.
But the truth is that the United States has a consistent history of wrestling with principles and reality, with revisiting ideals in light of new insights and circumstances, with balancing individual freedoms and collective interdependency. It has always been so.
At Independence National Historical Park, I put aside my so-sophisticated critical-thinking world-weariness and let myself be amazed and inspired anew by the vision of representative government and participatory democracy. Even if it requires constant reflection, discussion and action… even if it will always be imperfect in its application and in need of constructive criticism to meet its own ideals… it is remarkable and precious and worthy of fighting for.
Look around. History is happening. Our fellow citizens of the world, our planet, and the future depend on us.
And dare I say it? How lucky we are to be alive right now.
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- Read the next photo!
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- Look at the previous photo!
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- Benjamin Franklin was quite a creative and busy human being!
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- Betsy Ross House
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- “A skilled artisan” “Ross represents many women who supported their families during the Revolution and early Republic.” Excellent recognition!
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- Our delightfully history-geeked-out guide Brian (of Bow Tie Tours), leading and enlightening our walking tour. Elfreth’s Alley
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- The first United States Post Office!
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- Carpenters’ Hall the site of the First Continental Congress in 1774.
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- First Continental Congress info
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- Beautiful architecture!
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- Liberty Bell, Independence National Historical Park
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- Independence Hall, Independence National Historic Park
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- Assembly Room of Independence Hall, the site where the Declaration of Independence was signed in August 1776, and the U.S. Constitution was signed in 1787.
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- Congress Hall, Independence National Historical Park
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- First United States Senate Chambers, Congress Hall
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- First United States House of Representatives Chambers, Congress Hall
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- Declaration of Independence, Independence National Historical Park
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- Philadelphia City Hall
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- Love Park in the City of Brotherly Love
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- Free Library of Philadelphia
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- Fairmount Water Works
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- Fairmount Water Works
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- Fairmount Water Works and an illuminated Boathouse Row
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- Fairmount Water Works
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- Philadelphia Museum of Art, also known for having the stairs that Rocky ran up
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- The view from atop the “Rocky” stairs at the Philadelphia Museum of Art
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- I earned it! Like Rocky, I ran up the stairs at the Philadelphia Museum of Art!
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- With my hosts, Karen and Stu Lynd. We met in the laundry room of a campground in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula in September. They invited me to stay with them if I came to South Jersey, and… I did!! They took great care of me! Thanks, Karen & Stu!
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- Despite knowing that New Jersey is dubbed “The Garden State,” I had in my head that it was now industrial in the north, suburban most everywhere else, with a strip of Jersey Shore. But some of South Jersey reminds me an awful lot of Northern Virginia with its fields, trees, and small towns filled with gorgeous old town halls, churches, banks, homes. And folks tell me that New Jersey is famous for its tomatoes, that people will drive here from Pennsylvania to buy them. Good to know! Vine-ripened tomatoes are exquisite. Franklinville, NJ
I love the way you captured every detail of your visit. I’ve lived in this area all my life but you gave me a different perspective of the special qualities we have to offer!
That is one terrific compliment! I am honored to bring fresh perspective to something so familiar and close to your heart. Thank you and Stu for sharing it with me!