Celebrate the Fourth by surfing our history

On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, a majestic document drafted mostly by Thomas Jefferson with help from John Adams and Benjamin Franklin. In an act of great courage, 56 delegates eventually signed the statement announcing that America would be a free nation. For such defiance, they could have been prosecuted for treason and hanged.

The day is celebrated by spending time with family, playing and eating outdoors, and at the end of the day, seeing the sky light up with fireworks or watching live concerts on TV. Everyone should do something to commemorate the nation's birthday. Using the Internet and other resources, here are some suggestions:

• Get in the spirit by reading about John Philip Sousa (www.dws.org/sousa/) and listening to his greatest work, "The Stars and Stripes Forever." Click on the song's link on the page so you can have it playing in the background as you read about this gifted composer.

• Visit the Web site of the National Archives (www.archives.gov) and learn more about the Declaration, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. On the left, click on "Online Exhibits," then on the next page, "The Charters of Freedom." Read about the people who played such an important role in the nation's founding.

• Once you have read the material at the National Archives, see how much you know about the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Go to www.richardlabunski.com and click on "Constitution Quiz" in the Site Index.

• For parents of young children, go to www.americaslibrary.gov and explore the links that tell the story of the nation's founding and history. Kids can learn about people and events through pictures, documents and stories. Parents can also go to Yahoo! or Google and put "Fourth of July" in the blank field for ideas of activities and crafts.

• Take your child to your local library this summer. Libraries are very important to every community, and they need people to use their facilities in person to maintain their financial support. The Internet will never replace the experience of browsing for books and other materials at a real library.

• If you have older children, talk to them about something in the news related to politics, government or American history. Find an article in today's newspaper for everyone to read and then discuss the article with your kids. Encourage them to be interested in public issues and to be active citizens.

• Set an example for your children by writing an e-mail to those who represent you in Congress. Go to www.house.gov/writerep to find the name of your House member and a form that makes it easy to send an e-mail. For the Senate, go to www.senate.gov — in the upper right corner, click on "Find Your Senators" and click on your state. You'll see a form to use.

• For a more ambitious activity, read the most important First Amendment case decided by the Supreme Court in its 216-year history. The Fourth of July is a great time to remember the importance of freedom of speech and press. This 1964 case involved a libel suit against a major newspaper, but the court focused on the core values of a democratic nation. Go to Yahoo.com, and put "New York Times v. Sullivan" in the blank field.

• If you subscribe to a music service such as Napster or iTunes, download the 1973 song "American Tune," by Paul Simon. Especially at a time when the nation is divided over so many issues, this song lets you think about where the country has been and where we are headed. If you can't hear the music, read the lyrics by entering "American Tune" and "Simon" in Yahoo!.

• Finally, on a day when fireworks can be frightening to pets, plan to donate money to your local humane society. They never have enough and are competing with so many other organizations for contributions. It is a sign of a caring nation when it provides for animals that desperately need help.

Richard Labunski, a former University of Washington faculty member, is a journalism professor at the University of Kentucky. His Web site is www.richardlabunski.com