Reflections About Independence Day

“The journey is the reward.” – Tao saying

After the hot dogs and hamburgers have been eaten, and the fireworks are silent once more, I wonder: How many of our young citizens know enough of our nation’s history to appreciate why we celebrate Independence Day, and why America is truly exceptional?

In 1776, Thomas Jefferson wrote these words: “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.”

These words were written in a world where Kings and Queens claimed they ruled by “divine right,” where every nation had slavery, where countries advanced by conquest, and where many were bound to lives of servitude, ignorance, and poverty. The Declaration of Independence was world-shattering.

Not all Americans thought self-government was a good idea -- or even feasible. But our brilliant Founding Fathers saw this as a chance to start the world anew. Having studied historians, theologians, and philosophers like John Locke, they sought to devise a government that would allow maximum freedom for people to live their lives as they see fit. That meant creating a government that did not dominate and control, a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. And they did it!

British Prime Minister William Gladstone said, “…the American Constitution is… the most wonderful work ever struck off by the brain and purpose of man.”

Theoretically they were starting the world over, but the reality was they had to start from where they were. Because slavery was universal, uniting the 13 colonies meant accepting those whose economy depended on slavery. They knew this did not reflect the high ideals written in the founding documents, but they felt they would get there in time.

With time, the slavery question grew more contentious. Abolitionists and others formed a new political party, the Republican Party. The first Republican president was Abraham Lincoln. Americans fought their bloodiest war, the Civil War, to save the union and abolish slavery. In 1863, Lincoln enacted the Emancipation Proclamation. Constitutional amendments 13, 14, and 15 followed, guaranteeing the rights of former slaves to be full citizens.

In 1787, Gouverneur Morris wrote: “We, The People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Under this new Constitution, Americans were free to pursue their own interests and to prosper. As society changed, the Constitution changed, as when women got the vote.

With Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency, America became a world power. While acknowledging the great sacrifice made by other nations, America’s contributions in WWI, and WWII were essential for victory.

We saved half of the Korean peninsula from a communist takeover. Today South Korea is modern and prosperous, while North Korea is a dark police state.

In Vietnam, our goal was the same, to stop the spread of evil Communism. We were not in Vietnam or Korea for conquest or personal gain. Even now, we see the Chinese communists arresting dissenters, and swallowing up Hong Kong. We saw Russia take over Crimea and invade Ukraine. China and Russia are the enemies of freedom. America is the hope of the world.

America is the strongest, richest, and most important nation on earth, which is why leftists are currently trying to overthrow it. People come here from everywhere to have a chance at a better life.

 Americans are virtuous, generous, and courageous. When there is a natural disaster or catastrophe, America shows up to help. The character of our first responders and our military speaks for itself.

This is not a racist country. The misinformed miscreants in our streets would be surprised to learn that more black Africans moved to the United States voluntarily in the last 50 years than were ever brought here as slaves, according to talk-radio host, Dennis Prager.

We study history to understand, not to criticize. It is folly to judge the actions of Americans in the past by today’s standards.

We are all human and capable of mistakes and wrong thinking. We honor heroes not because they are perfect people, but for what they were able to achieve despite their imperfections.

Forget about “white guilt.” Have pride in America, for this is the only nation that fought a civil war to end slavery.

Times change. People change. But the founding principles of America do not. And so, our nation continues its journey to fulfill its promise of freedom.