I was downtown yesterday, driving through the historic area so many Philadelphians take for granted. As always, I was both surprised and a little moved by just how many visitors come from all over the world to spend Independence Day in my hometown.

They could have gone to Disney World, or the beach, or stayed home for a backyard barbecue. Instead, they came to Philadelphia for July 4th because they're drawn by this idea of liberty, and the ideals expressed in our Declaration of Independence.

See that platform with the American flag? Many of you will recognize it as the place where members of Congress signed the Declaration of Independence, and I got to walk there once. I felt completely overwhelmed by the privilege of standing in one of the most sacred spots in American history.

Lately, many of our elected officials seem to forget about the ideals we started with. But I hope we haven't! There are many reasons to be depressed, but don't give up. Get mad, get organized!

Remember, it's our country. It doesn't belong to Donald Trump, or corrupt Republicans.

It belongs to us.

Adams:
It's a masterpiece, I say!
They will cheer every word, every letter

Jefferson:
I wish I felt that way

Franklin:
I believe I can put it better
Now then attend, as friend to friend
Our Declaration Committee
For us I see immortality

All:
In Philadelphia City

Franklin:
A farmer, a lawyer, and a sage
A bit gouty in the leg
You know it's quite bizarre
To think that here we are
Playing midwives to an egg

All:
We're waiting for the chirp, chirp, chirp
Of an eaglet being born
We're waiting for the chirp, chirp, chirp
On this humid Monday morning in this
Congressional incubator

Franklin:
God knows the temperature's hot enough
To hatch a stone, let alone an egg

All:
We're waiting for the scratch, scratch, scratch
Of that tiny little fellow
Waiting for the egg to hatch
On this humid Monday morning in this
Congressional incubator

Adams:
God knows the temperature's hot enough
To hatch a stone

Jefferson:
But will it hatch an egg?

Adams:
The eagle's going to crack the shell
Of the egg that England laid

All:
Yes, so we can tell, tell, tell
On this humid Monday morning in this
Congressional incubator

Franklin:
And as just as Tom here has written
Though the shell may belong to Great Britain,
The eagle inside belongs to us!

All:
And as just as Tom here has written
We say to hell with Great Britain!
The eagle inside belongs to us!