Remember that today is not a military holiday.

On this date, 231 years ago, a group of extraordinary Americans declared that this country would no longer suffer under the rule of an all-powerful executive by signing their names to a document that had been in the works for months.

Today does not celebrate the violence that would come from their commitment.

Today celebrates the heated reasoning that gave birth to this country.

Would that even a glimmer of the passionate reason found in that Congress be reflected in what passes for Congress today.