Happy Birthday America!
The Declaration of Independence gave birth to the only country on earth founded on the twinned principles of individual freedom and limited government.
From that date forward “progressives” have attempted to flip the dynamic of limited government and individual freedom. They see our Constitution, in the words of Barack Hussein Obama, as “a charter of negative liberties” that is free to be changed to reflect what they believe is a better vision of governance – founding principles be hanged.
Certainly there are wrinkles and pitfalls with liberty, human nature being what it is. But they pale in comparison to the pitfalls associated with tyranny – just ask anyone who’s ever lived under it. Raised to understand and value the twin principles of America’s founding I cannot understand how anyone could, or would, so thoughtlessly throw them away as many are willingly doing today.
We find ourselves this July 4th, 2021, in a land of “woke” zombies seemingly content to sacrifice freedom and liberty for…serfdom. So, yes, I admit to longing for the nostalgic version of America where there were still some things that everyone agreed on and celebrated: freedom, liberty and justice in an unjust world.
Somebody asked the other day if there ever were better times. I find it sad that we have to ask that; of course there were, despite problems. The real question is will there be better times ahead? I hope so, but it will require a great deal of work, and prayer.
I leave you with this reminder of what America and American Independence is about. It’s excerpted from Thomas Jefferson’s 1826 letter to Roger Chew Weightman on the 50th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
…our fellow citizens, after half a century of experience and prosperity, continue to approve the choice we made. May it be to the world, what I believe it will be, (to some parts sooner, to others later, but finally to all,) the Signal of arousing men to burst the chains, under which monkish ignorance and superstition had persuaded them to bind themselves, and to assume the blessings & security of self-government.
That form which we have substituted, restores the free right to the unbounded exercise of reason and freedom of opinion. All eyes are opened, or opening, to the rights of man. 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…
Now get out there and enjoy the freedom of the Fourth of July with parades, barbeques, ice cream, sparklers and fireworks. Celebrate the birth of the greatest country on earth while we still have it.
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