With every holiday, I marvel at the passage of time, and at the twists and turns my path has taken here at TTAC. In reflecting on the recent past, I can’t help but feel an immense gratitude to the inscrutable workings of fate which have conspired to keep me eagerly engaged in this site’s unending quest for automotive truth. And on this, the holiday of American independence, gratitude seems to me a highly appropriate theme. One of the deeply-removed gears of destiny that has created the opportunity that is TTAC is surely this nation’s fundamental belief in public discourse and a free press, the constitutionally and culturally enshrined belief that the open exchange of ideas can make life, and its most necessary evil, government, at least a little bit better. Even those who disagree on a fundamental level with the opinions that TTAC espouses must concede not only that we have the right to our opinions, but also that our criticisms ultimately give strength to their objects. Our founding fathers did not protect speech out of mere principle, but because they knew that free discussion is the dialectic of progress. Through what they saw as the divine power of reason, we could form more complete ideas about the world and be better equipped to take on the challenges of liberty, self-government and the free market.
Today I am not just grateful that our founding fathers created a culture which allows me to live in the world of ideas, and in pursuit of truth. I am not just grateful for legal protections of my free speech. I am not just grateful that I can serve consumers and industry alike by shining the light of discourse on the dark places of poor logic, market malfunction, and willful ignorance. Today I am most grateful that my fellow Americans continue to value their free speech enough to patronize sites like TTAC, where they may find ideas and opinions that challenge their view of the world, where these ideas are more important than advertising revenue, and where perspectives from around our shrinking globe can be compared and contrasted in an atmosphere of respect and rigor. In an era when the value of ideas and discourse seems to be losing ground to slickly-packaged distraction and ideological rigidity, it gives me faith that so many still crave the thrilling uncertainty of a tough debate, and a deep-seeded hunger for a better understanding of the world (if “only” the world of cars).
As we celebrate American independence today, I am grateful not only for this nation’s providential founding on the enduring principles of Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness (which I would define as being generally synonymous with the Pursuit of Understanding), but the fact that those values have endured in you, our ever-demanding, every hungry-for-knowledge readers. Let us endeavor, together, to live up to the lofty ideals the American spirit as we unflinchingly pursue the truth about cars.
As per the alt text, Patriotism is also about more than American assembly, because that’s a Canadian-built car.
Not that Chrysler couldn’t have run a commercial with Sir John A. McDonald sleeping off the results of drinking binge in that same car, but it probably should have run on July 1st. And it would have been awesome.
Edward, I enjoy reading your articles and all the articles on TTAC. I try to make it a part of my daily routine to check in and read them. Keep up the good work. Enjoy your Fourth.
There is so much we need to be thankful for when it comes to cars, choice being first and foremost.
Happy “Liberation of the UK” day to everyone! :O)
All joking aside, American freedoms are slowly being eroded away. One look at the patriot act will demonstrate that quite clearly…
Well, howdy stranger!
I thought she made off with the Booth Babe!
Congrats on the big day :)
As we celebrate American independence today, I am grateful not only for this nation’s providential founding on the enduring principles of Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness (which I would define as being generally synonymous with the Pursuit of Understanding), but the fact that those values have endured in you, our ever-demanding, every hungry-for-knowledge readers. Let us endeavor, together, to live up to the lofty ideals the American spirit as we unflinchingly pursue the truth about cars.
Great sentiment, Sir. I still have hope for this country that our best days may still be ahead of us.
Well done all.
Happy 4th to our neighbors to the south. As Canadians, we had a different liberation from colonialism(ie.signed off from England in 1867 without serious gunplay), but your country blazed a path of independence for us northern folk and we are grateful to have you as our next door neighbors.Your unwavering right to freedom of speech is a model for the world and I am glad that it is a fundamental part of this website
Jim Sutherland…I to, am Canadian. In my travels I’ve been mistaken as an American.
Unlike some, I consider such a “mistake” a great compliment.
Have a great July fourth.
1867, yes — but first there was the Constitutional Act of 1791, triggered by you-know-what, and effectively granting autonomy to Upper and Lower Canada. Some more independence in 1840, and then the formal independence in 1867. Evolution, not revolution. : )
Canada’s example does make one wonder if the bloodshed of the Revolutionary War was, in fact, necessary. Perhaps it was, but it seems odd that the question itself is rarely asked. Somehow Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa all got free of the UK without major wars. Perhaps the US’ trail blazing war made that all possible, or perhaps our ancestors jumped the gun.
Happy 4th of July, I’m gonna drive my corvette downtown tonight… Go to a restaurant and have a couple of cold ones. Nothing better than that!