Independence Day, 2009

I try my best to resist referring to this most important National Holiday by using “The Fourth of July/July 4.”

Those short forms (not unlike “X-mas”) remove the meaning and therefore any respect due the birth of our nation.  This is largely due to advertising which will bastardize the most solemn of occasions to sell…. anything.

Not even Memorial Day—the most solemn of our national holidays—escapes being debased with Memorials Day Sheet Sets 50% Off! and even worse.

The cartoon heads of Washington and Lincoln with balloons above their heads discuss the merits of women's and children's pajama sets. 

But GA, the country was founded in freedom and that means we should enjoy that freedom by doing what we want.

Uh-huh. So on your anniversary, you go bowling… out with the guys… local bar? After all, you wear a wedding ring… that should be enough, right?

One of the reasons were are in the ditch right now is because we’ve failed to instruct the last few generations in the requirements of citizenship, the true history of our nation and the cost of failing to comprehend and defend our form of government, and the God-given rights of the People.

Not long ago I had a brief conversation with a twenty-something person who, being a non-believer, denied that we have “certain, unalienable…God-given rights” and that such rights “come from the government—from people.”

Alas. Apparently she has never pondered what happens when the government which “gives” rights, can take them away. What then, since the government gave them, we have no recourse?

Perhaps I could have substituted Descartes’ “I think, therefore I am” which is a declaration of similar philosophy, though I imagine that Descartes would not have taken it the logical, next step, “…. and I am, because of God.”      

Thus, the Founders were far more intelligent and philosophical than ole Renee… he seemed to be content with self-centered thought… the Founders constructed the freest society in history by recognition the rights of the individual.

All of this is imperiled as the barbarians are at the gates, this 233rd anniversary of our birth.

We have slept, we have grow fat and lethargic, we have failed our responsibilities to our Forefathers, to our children and ourselves, and we have scant little time left to stave off those who would destroy us.  

 

“… We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security…”

Comments

[pontiff alex]

You have nailed it. I will admit, I am a 'non-believer' in 'God', BUT, I DO believe in the RIGHT of others to believe in God/s, and that the 'basic tenets' that the Bible/many religions espouse ARE GREAT GUIDELINES on 'how to act'. The Founding Fathers foresight and COGNIZANCE that farther on, the road WOULD be rough, CANNOT be understated. I still try to everyday, at least once, when I pass OLD GLORY, say the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, (only I chance 'under God' to 'under the stars' or omit it, as was the ORIGINAL pledge...), and call me a dork, but I TEAR UP, and I DARE anyone to stand before me, and mock that. I L-O-V-E this country, WE THE PEOPLE are GOOD, RIGHTEOUS, and while we may have our faults, EVERYONE come to our door when THEY need help. EVERYONE. I T-H-A-N-K the BRAVE MEN and WOMEN that have fought,are fighting now, those that will fight in the future for My and OUR FREEDOM, and ESPECIALLY those that paid the ULTIMATE PRICE for F-R-E-E-D-O-M around the world, and through the centuries. THEY WILL NEVER, E-V-E-R BE FORGOTTEN. Thank YOU Gary. WELCOME HOME.