As a requirement for my American Heritage class this semester, I'll be writing short weekly free-writes on various topics we discuss in class. Realistically speaking, I probably won't have any time to blog other than through these posts, so I hope you all enjoy a few months of my thoughts on American Studies. The first topic was the Declaration of Independence. Here it is!
The Declaration of Independence
The difficulty in studying, writing about, and thinking about the Declaration of Independence is its overwhelming familiarity. Most of us born and raised in America and in a culturally American family have had the Declaration of Independence knitted into our hearts and minds and woven together with the smells and tastes of barbecues and root-beer floats and the sights and sounds of fireworks and marching bands and a general feeling of celebration. In the California public education system, kids learn about the Declaration of Independence in fifth grade, eighth grade, and junior year. In all likelihood they learn about it earlier and discuss it in other years. It has become such a symbol in our cultural consciousness that most are not remotely familiar with its content. Thankfully, I’m a little bit more than remotely familiar with it, and yet I struggle to restore and maintain the color and meaning of this patriotic symbol that has faded in the light of eighteen hot summer afternoons. The numerous times I have heard and read the text have sadly rendered it mundane. My mind knows that I ought to as passionate about it as I am about any other secular document. After all, the Declaration of Independence has had a far more profound effect on the world I live in and the way I live than most if not all other non-religious texts. But in spite of all the factual knowledge I’ve accumulated (and sadly even my factual knowledge is very lacking), in spite of the sacrifice given and risk taken by each of the founding fathers who signed it, in spite of its tremendous importance in Western history, I still too often fail to find personal meaning and passion within the text of the Declaration of Independence.
One of the best moments of the course so far was near the end of last Wednesday’s lecture when Dr. Holzapfel, while discussing the Declaration of Independence, its place in history, its authors and signers, et cetera choked up and nearly cried. The genuine emotion he showed for this brief collection of words was very moving and seemed to spring from everything he stands for as a professor, scholar, husband, father, citizen, and disciple of Christ.
I don’t know how long it will take, but I hope to discover that same appreciation for this document and my heritage as an American.
And for your viewing pleasure, here's a music video that I LOVE. Thanks goes to the many Taylor Swift-obsessed guys on my floor and in my ward for pulling me onto the band wagon. What can I say? She's gorgeous and talented. And for the record, I do love Beyonce's "Single Ladies" video.
--Christian
9 comments:
Great song!! (I still remember what it feels like to be young :)) And FABULOUS essay!! Christian -- you are a gifted writer. I am SO PROUD of you!!!!
Lots of great sensory detail in there, Christian. And Taylor Swift is very cute, and I think she has a pretty positive message for girls. It'll be so tragic when she goes the way of all pop starlets.
Well, Rosalynde, I'm hoping Taylor Swift really is the good girl she claims to be, and who knows, maybe she'll stay in good shape. She's already nineteen/twenty and maybe even twenty-one, so if she got through her teenage years all right, maybe she has hope for her adult life.
Holzapfel is great. Good old wooden apple.
Most of my knowledge of the Declaration of Independence comes from that cartoon with the church mice and benjamin franklin. Isn't that sad?
Wooden apple? I have never heard that expression before. And I'm not familiar with that cartoon, but you've been pretty successful so far so I guess you're okay :-)
Thanks for that, Christian. Very well-written. Have you ever read the John Adams biography by David McCollough? It gave me a whole new appreciation for the Declaration of Independence.
There is a girl in my ward (well, not girl, probably 22 or 23) who looks exactly like brunette version of Taylor Swift. I always want to tell her that, but don't know if she'll just think I'm weird. :-)
I've heard that song before, but never saw the video--I love it! Makes me kind of wish that Dave and I had lived next door growing up--except that we were both the nerds, so we would have found each other a lot sooner, and then would have just been awkward with each other for a long time :).
Thanks for your comments about the Declaration and about the lecture in class! Also...I really appreciated the video...classic. Glad you're a fan!
-Chelsea
I believe "wooden apple" is the translation of Holzapfel from the German language. Not meant to be a reflection on his personality or intellect :) He is a GREAT teacher and man of God.
Post a Comment