Better Late...

I meant to post this shorty the other day, but as they say, better late than never.

As this is science blogs, I think it's fitting to remember what one of the founders of the USA had to say about July 4. The following is from a letter Thomas Jefferson wrote in response to a request that he attend a 50 year anniversary celebration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1826. Jefferson was too ill to attend, and died on that date, within hours of fellow countryman John Adams.

The general spread of the light of science has already laid open to every view the palpable truth, that the mass of mankind has not been born with saddles on their backs, nor a favored few booted and spurred, ready to ride them legitimately, by the grace of God. These are grounds of hope for others. For ourselves, let the annual return of this day forever refresh our recollections of these rights, and an undiminished devotion to them.

I am happy to be a (modest) part of a group of folks with a commitment to the general spread of the light of science, particularly given the anti-science which seems to pervade some political and religious circles these days.