The American Birthright: Independence

In the hot summer of 1776, a group of men huddled in Independence Hall in the great city of Philadelphia put pen to the paper drafted by Thomas Jefferson that declared our independence from the British king. The city of Philadelphia would become known as the birthplace of liberty, much like George Washington would become known around the world as the "Father of freedom". In pledging their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor, these great and wise men would, in that piece of parchment and the United States Constitution that would come in 1789, bequeath to their heirs the birthright to live as free men and women.

"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."

What does it mean to be independent? What does it mean to live free? Independence, as articulated best by George Washington, the greatest American of all, is remaining free of permanent foreign entanglements. Jefferson said that we should have good and peaceful relations with all nations but permanent alliances with none. Today, we're told by the elite around the world that we should strive to be interdependent, that the world is shrinking because of technology. Yes, I suppose that's true. One can fly around the world in no time at all, whereas during the times of our Founding Fathers it would take an unthinkable amount of time to travel just across the continental United States. Those that tell us we should strive for interdependence use a clever turn of phrase to tell us that the American ideal of independence, that thing for which our Founding Fathers fought and died, is an outdated concept that has no place in today's world. What they're really telling us, even though like with everything else they're too afraid to say it clearly and truthfully, is that we should strive to be dependent. Because isn't that what interdependence really is?

The idea of American INTERdependence is anathema to freedom lovers that still shape the overwhelming majority of the public. What those elites really want is to have global governance paid for by you and me, the American people. In placing this concept of interdependence above liberty, the old cliche that dates back to our founding rings truer than ever: NO taxation without representation. What would America look like if our destiny is left to the machinations of Third World despots? You see, the American republican system of governance provides for direct representation of constituents in order to ensure that power always resides closely to the hands of those who ultimately exercise it: the people. But the New World Order being forced upon us by the Democratic Party and many so-called Republicans is quite different than the vision of our Founders. It is, to be blunt, a direct assault on both the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution. And we must not stand for it.

"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."

Just powers, as the Declaration states, are derived from the consent of the governed. At its essence, the Declaration of Independence not only breaks the political bands between these United States and Great Britain. It places responsibility of freedom and self-government, the "American experiment" as it's often called, in the hands of the American people. THAT is the basic essence of independence: taking responsibility. It is our choice alone to live free or whether to allow those who would sell American independence off for campaign cash to determine our destiny. The choice is ours. The responsibility to carry the torch of freedom is ours alone. That is why Lincoln referred to our great nation as the last, best hope on Earth.

In sum, the Founding Fathers' vision for America is not outdated and we should be ready to challenge at any and every turn those that say that it is. We know this because there are millions of people who share their belief that the destiny of America is unique and that the highest ideals that we can strive for are liberty and independence. Yes, the world is shrinking. But that doesn't mean there isn't room for those ideals of liberty and independence. On that hot summer day 230 years ago, those ideals were articlated for all of mankind in the Declaration of Independence. So today on America's birthday, on our Independence Day, when you light your barbeque and set off your fireworks make sure to remember why you have the day off.  It's to celebrate that miracle that took place in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776.  On that day our birthright was given to us in written word. Now it is up to each of us to exercise the responsibility it takes to live free and independent. I believe we’re up to the task because, as Reagan said, we are Americans.

Happy Independence Day, America.