Independence Day

It’s essential to read the founding documents of this country every year. The Declaration of Independence is important. It’s in three parts, and it’s easy enough to find online. I’m told when what I write is long, it won’t get read. As I start, this will be long. The Declaration of Independence is a fascinating document and is worth reading occasionally. So do it now, especially toward the end. If not, read toward the bottom of this. Or get it off the meme I made in part. Still, though, the real question is raised at the end. I refer to the 56 signing it as the Founders of this country, still a British Colony at the time.

Today, for some, it seems to be a trigger. Some will argue and celebrate Independence Day on what is known as Juneteenth. It is an important date in our history, and I celebrate America’s founding on July 4, 1776. However, it took a revolutionary war and 11 more years to have our present Constitution with Amendments to it, to have the true beginning of the United States of America.

Given the times we live in, some declare the beginning of the United States as 1619. There was no United States then, of course. It was a year to remember, but so is 1492, although Columbus never touched land here, 1513, 1565, 1587, 1607, 1619, 1754, and others before 1787.

The Declaration speaks to our ideals and aspirations as a nation of united people. We’ve fallen short at times, but we get back up. It’s an indictment against the British king, explaining why we must be a free nation and then detailing it. It acknowledges the shared sacrifice necessary to achieve independence.

The known sacrifice, a mutual pledge to be shared, is little known and buried toward the bottom, but so real, even today. Most everyone is aware of specific phrases like, “When in the Course of human events…” or “We hold these truths to be self-evident…”

Tucked away and seldom taught in schools are found at the heart of this document these words, “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.”

The Founders pledged their lives and property(fortunes) to the principles of the Declaration of Independence. We have a continuing duty to do the same.

But I have a question, and the answer may depend on your political perspective, but it shouldn’t. If the Founders had the foresight to know where we could be now, 248 years later, would they have pledged their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor for it?

I’m proud to be an American and of the United States of America. Like all countries and people, we have blemishes and scars, but we’ve overcome many of the ills we’ve faced through liberty and freedom, and we’ve done it faster than other countries.

Some countries remain mired today in the worst of times, but we overcame quickly concerning time and civilization. The struggle to stay free and keep our liberty is a generational struggle. We have people here believing that a “new” socialism leads to a utopian world, new only in the sense that every time it’s been tried, it has proved dystopian.

Even as I write this, a progressive candidate for the U.S. Senate decries America’s very founding. He’s wrong, of course. Unfortunately, he is not alone. In the countries some find better, they would be silenced, but not in the United States.

So, would the Founders make the pledge knowing this? I think they would. They may be disappointed that we’ve let the government grow so large. The man credited with penning the Declaration said, “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.”

All he meant was the price of liberty is a willingness to die for freedom or lose it to the first tyrant willing to take it away. Or, as said by many, “The price of liberty is eternal vigilance.” So far, we’ve been able to maintain it, though it does get chipped.

Enjoy the day, but by all means, understand it! May God continue to bless the United States of America,