Independence Day

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. 

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. ...

And so it began, that July 4, 1776. Sadly today, so many people have forgotten these truths. Sadder still, the institutions charged with protecting these rights, namely the president and the congress, have forgotten that our basic human rights are "endowed by [our] Creator." These rights are not granted by the government, they are only to be acknowledged by the government. Today, the Obama administration seeks to make itself the grantor and arbiter of basic human rights. However, we should be reminded that what the government does not grant, it cannot take away, except by force and coercion. Is this the country envisioned in the Declaration of Independence?

Sadly, too many people are willing to be sheep and blindly accept this intrusion from the government. Once people begin relying on a government to grant them their rights, they are no longer free people. When our elected officials seek to impose their will on the citizenry, claiming it's for the citizens' benefit, they are no better than any of the other tyrants throughout history. How many millions of people have been killed over the years in the name of the "greater good"?

As we celebrate our Nation's founding, let us look beyond the burgers on the grill, beyond the cold beer, beyond the swimming pools, beyond the parades, beyond the fireworks. Let us ask ourselves if we are willing to allow government bureaucrats to name themselves as the arbiters of our God-given rights. Are we willing to become subjects of tyranny?

If you're a reader of these Musings, I'm guessing your answer to those questions is a resounding "NO!" We must not let the usurping of our rights continue. To do so devalues the dignity of human life, it debases our standing as free men. So stand tall, and let the celebrations of Independence Day serve to increase your resolve to maintain your liberty.

"Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves." --Abraham Lincoln