The significance of this day, July 4th, is not
lost on many of us.
The Founders of this great nation sacrificed everything
in the cause of liberty. Many affixed
their signature to the Declaration of Independence on this day in 1776, knowing
that they may as well have been signing their death warrant; as King George
would most certainly wage war to keep the colonies within the British Empire. And he did.
Within that courageous document is the very simple idea
that all men have “certain unalienable rights; that among these are life,
liberty, and happiness…”
Liberty is the most precious of these, for without it, the
other two are that much more difficult to realize. It is this most high idea that caused the
great patriot, Patrick Henry to utter these words:
“Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at
the price of chains and slavery? Forbid
it, Almighty God. I know not what course
others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death.”
With each passing day our precious liberties are eroding
as the iron fist of government continues to encroach upon our ability to lead
our lives in our own way and achieve happiness.Contained within the Declaration of Independence is a list of grievances against King George. One of them is:
“He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent
hither swarms of Officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.”
Sound familiar?
Does history repeat itself?
Consider the vast amount of regulation promulgated by the
current administration to thwart enterprise, diminish human labor, and destroy
human capital. Think the XL pipeline, an
overzealous EPA, an ineffective interior department, and a failed Department of
Education. All of the bureaucratic
control monsters and the back office paper-pushers have done their utmost to
destroy the economic process.
Now a recent study paid for by the DHS (Department of
Homeland Security) has asserted that we Americans that are “suspicious of
centralized federal authority” and “reverent of individual liberty” can be
considered as extreme right wing terrorists.
Where is the liberty?
Abraham Lincoln once said, “Courage is lost through
disuse”.
On this glorious day, as we celebrate our Nation’s birth,
we must find the courage to encourage the blessings of liberty right up through
Election Day, November 6, 2012.
We must all give of our time to advance the cause of
Liberty. First, engage in the political
process by supporting those who further its development. Second, be charitable in our work and through
our deeds by helping those in need, not abdicating this responsibility to
government bureaucrats. Finally, educate others by spreading the value of
liberty.
For if we do all of these things our nation will be more
secure and life and happiness will be that much more assured.
