“I am happy to address you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of chickens.”
“Five score years ago, a great chicken, in whose symbolic shadow I stand today, declared all chickens to be created equal. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of banties who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. But one hundred years later, the banty still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the banty is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the banty lives on a lonely island of bird seed in the midst of a vast ocean of corn. One hundred years later, the banty is still languishing in the corners of chicken society and finds himself an exile in his own land. So I have come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.”
“Now is the time to lift our flock from the quick sands of injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God’s chickens. This sweltering summer of the banty’s legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality.”
“I have a dream that one day this flock will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all chickens are created equal. I have a dream that one day in chicken yards across America banties and standard-size chickens will be able to peck together at the feeding trough of brotherhood.”
“I have a dream that my little chicks will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the length of their feathers but by the content of their character.”
“And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every nesting box and every hen house, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s fowl, banties and standard-size, Domineckers and Araucanas, Buff Orpingtons and Silver Laced Wyandottes, will be able to join wings and crow in the words of the old chicken spiritual, Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!”
—Spartacus Luther King, “I Have A Dream” speech, as recorded in the Library of Chicken Congress
*Happy Fourth of July!
Julie Andrea in Englehart, ON says:
Good Morning, and a Happy Fourth of July to you too! Wow, those chicks have come a long way, haven’t they? They are so pretty, love the patterns and colours. Hmmm, no Coco pix today?
On July 4, 2008 at 5:34 am
Kathryn says:
“This sweltering summer of the banty’s legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality.”
That is brilliant! Oh, you have me laughing this morning, and I thank you. Hope your holiday is filled with peace, joy, laughter, and pie!
On July 4, 2008 at 6:12 am
Heidi says:
Who knew chickens could be SO much fun! LOL
On July 4, 2008 at 6:39 am
peggy says:
Hope you and the chickens have a wonderful 4th
On July 4, 2008 at 6:45 am
anne says:
You and your family have a good 4th !!
What a wonderful posting this morning.
What wit!! You are the best!
On July 4, 2008 at 7:10 am
Kim A. says:
Absolutely priceless! Well done!
Happy July 4th to you all…though I do believe our Canada Day on the 1st went unnoticed. Talk about discrimination! :rotfl:
-Kim A.
On July 4, 2008 at 7:36 am
Kathy R says:
Well, it’s the 4th, but I’m afraid our fireworks here in our corner of WV will fizzle in this rain. I don’t exactly want it to stop raining, because drought is worse than rain I suppose, but could it confine itself to one or two days a week, instead of every weekend and every holiday???
Hope your plans include some inside activities today, like puppy hugging?
The picture of those chickens at the trough is great. All Banties of the world, rise up and celebrate your independence. In the rain. Or prepare to die for your country (er, chicken pen.)
On July 4, 2008 at 7:54 am
Carolyn A. says:
Bravo! Bravo! What a great post! Really enjoyed reading it. Have you had a chance to see mine? I have you in my favs list there. xxoo
On July 4, 2008 at 8:02 am
Carolyn A. says:
Sorry, don’t click on my name in the comment I just made. Forgot to change my website to the newest one. What a dunderhead I am. xxoo
On July 4, 2008 at 8:04 am
Suzanne McMinn says:
P.S. If you click on the “daily farm photo” today, Princess has a little story there about Spartacus’s queen!
On July 4, 2008 at 8:18 am
Cheryl S. says:
I actually looked at the daily photo and read the amazing story Princess wrote before I read your blog post today. I was looking for a way to comment on the photo page but didn’t see a way so I came here to praise Princess on the wonderful tale she wrote. I loved this story even more than the other one she wrote, if that’s possible. She is truly gifted. :shimmy:
On July 4, 2008 at 8:38 am
Beckynsc says:
I read both the stories.
Like Mother, like Daughter. You guys are a “hoot”!
On July 4, 2008 at 8:38 am
Shari C says:
Hope you and your family have a very happy Fourth of July week-end. May your chickens and all others find their freedom at last…really cute!
On July 4, 2008 at 9:14 am
Shimmy Mom says:
Happy Fourth!
On July 4, 2008 at 9:29 am
Kacey says:
Well, that was an amusing story to read while I sip my morning coffee! Happy 4th to you, Suzanne.
On July 4, 2008 at 9:48 am
Veggie Mom says:
You are TOO funny–and creative! And I LOVE the photos, too! Have a Happy 4th of July!
On July 4, 2008 at 9:58 am
Treasia says:
Both stories this morning had me smiling from ear to ear. chicken equality! :chicken:
On July 4, 2008 at 9:58 am
Amy says:
:rotfl:
Happy 4th of July to all creatures at the farm.
Hey, have you named your farm yet? Did I miss that post?
On July 4, 2008 at 10:25 am
Jan says:
Hmpf…..I was believing a chicken really had written this…until I got to “…seared with the flames…” There’s no way a chicken would have allowed those words to pass it’s lips. (Does a chicken have lips?)
But yes…all chickens SHOULD be equal!
On July 4, 2008 at 11:35 am
Donna says:
Ummm Ummm! Right now, I am thinking of some fried chicken, mashed potatoes and homemade white cream gravey, hot rolls, sweet tea…and PIE! LOL LOL
Happy 4th!!! The chickens are sure getting big!
On July 4, 2008 at 12:19 pm
Tori Lennox says:
This was a bloody brilliant speech, Spartacus!!!
And I loved Princess’ story about Queen Tokyo!!!
On July 4, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Debbie in Memphis says:
Happy 4th of July! Thanks for sharing your world with all of us.
On July 4, 2008 at 12:47 pm
catslady says:
Whether Princess likes it or not, she’s a great story teller :yes: Oh, and yours was pretty good too
Happy 4th to All Creatures Great and Small :purr:
On July 4, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Karen B says:
Soon Princess will be giving you a run for the money!! Happy 4th to all of you – peeps, :chicken: :woof: :catmeow: and all other residents!
On July 4, 2008 at 2:01 pm
Buffy in New York says:
:thumbsup: That was EXCELLENT! I loved it! Happy Fourth of July to everyone! :elephant:
On July 4, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Bertie says:
Spartacus for President!!
Happy 4th!! :chicken: :wave:
On July 4, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Jodie says:
Happy 4th of July! I’ve just spent 4 hours cleaning house for company. We’re hosting some family of our close friends that are visiting from China for a typical American celebration. Chuck has made potato salad, cole slaw, sugar-free apple pie. I’ve cut up pineapple and cantaloupe for fruit salad. I’ll be grilling burgers, brats, polish sausage and Hebrew National hotdogs (I only like Kosher dogs). Plus we’ve got chips, dip, peanuts (for watching the baseball games… C has the baseball package for our cable so he can see ALL the games if he wants to.) We’ll have Carl (Texan), his wife Lei (Chinese), their 3 year old Charlie, their 3 week old Caroline plus YeYe & LaLa (grandpa and grandma) and Lei’s sister Gia. Gia was the shop until I drop person that I mentioned on my blog. She shopped until I DROPPED last Sunday. 😉
:woof: :elephant: :snoopy: :drowning:
On July 4, 2008 at 3:33 pm
Estella says:
Happy 4th to you and the chickens!
On July 4, 2008 at 3:41 pm
Susan says:
Happy Independence Day! Oh my, is it possible that your Spartacus is a decedent of the famous Spartacus Luther King?
Princess, I loved your story! :thumbsup:
On July 4, 2008 at 4:00 pm
Brandy says:
You are twisted. And I like it! *G* Happy 4th of July!
On July 4, 2008 at 4:28 pm
Suzette says:
Spartacus is my hero! I think he should have a bunch of highways and stuff named after him.
On July 4, 2008 at 5:41 pm
Christine says:
This rang especially funny as we just today picked up a dozen banties. 😆 Happy 4th.
On July 4, 2008 at 10:08 pm
SuzieQ says:
SPAR TA CUS…SPAR TA CUS..SPAR TA CUS!!!
On July 4, 2008 at 11:19 pm
TeresaH says:
:shimmy: Didn’t make it here yesterday afternoon, but hope everyone had a great 4th!
On July 5, 2008 at 7:13 am