July 3, 2012
Potter, I Know What I Am Talking About
The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.
~John Adams, July 3, 2012 in a letter to his wife Abigail.
Has anyone ever had that moment where you are so certain of something, so absolutely sure that you’re right, and then… bam! Things go and change on you and you’re sitting there wondering what happened. I have. I’ve been in arguments with my friends, my family, even my fellow staffers when I just know that I’m right, but when the end comes, well, it just doesn’t happen like that.
Yesterday, the second of July, was the day that the Declaration of Independence finally passed the Continental Congress. John Adams, the next day, wrote his wife that it was going to be an amazing day, one celebrated for years to come. Well, he got the celebrations right, just not the day. July fourth, the day that we do celebrate, was the day that people actually signed the already-passed document. Sometimes I wonder what the rather obnoxious and loud Adams would say if he realized that we were celebrating what he would say was the wrong day!
The Declaration. From Wikipedia
It makes me think, though. We’re so certain that we’re right sometimes that we don’t sit back and listen to other people. In many cases we are right, but do we really need to say it so loudly? What’s the harm in listening to what others have to say for once?
Harry was guilty of this, in the first book. In his determination to do what he believed was right, protect the Sorcerer’s Stone, he completely mis-judged Snape’s intentions, even going as far as accusing him of trying to steal that which Snape was trying to protect. Sure, Harry’s situation turned out alright in the end, but it was needlessly sticky. If he had listened to everyone who was telling him that Snape was trying to protect the Stone, he might have understood Snape more quickly. (and possibly even had more help trying to convince people that someone was actually after the stone!)
So, really, why can’t we sit back and listen before we go charging ahead? It makes us all more understanding people, as well as more solid in our own beliefs, because we know what we’re going up against. A little patience can go a long way.
Oh, and Happy Second and Fourth of July to all of you Americans out there. We might be celebrating the wrong day, but we sure can throw a party!
Kathy
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It wasn’t signed until August 1776.