Independence

Originally published July 4, 2019

Independence day – the day ‘the thirteen colonies’ declared their independence from the British Monarchy – well technically it was July 2, but not officially approved by Congress until July 4th (just sayin…). What were we declaring our independence from? Just a few little things called, tyranny, oppression and taxes. Colonists believed that with independence would come the ability to make a better life to include owning their own land and the ability to make more money – it was the beginning of the American Dream!

I try to fathom what our ancestors faced over centuries to pave the road to how I get to live today and I worry that we’ve lost sight of the sacrifices that allows us to say what we want, be who we want, work where we want, live where we want, buy what we want and all with laws the protect and sustain us. I am in awe of our founding fathers and their collective foresight that gave us documents that have sustained us for over two centuries – our declaration of independence, our bill of rights and the constitution! Their foresight to see that equality was important in all things to include balance of power – was AMAZING! Did we (and do we) have to continue to improve, to right wrongs (slavery, women’s rights, discrimination) YES!!! But we were given such a gift as the groundwork to have that happen. So why do we take our “inalienable rights” granted and when do we stop punishing the present generations for sins of the past and just move forward?

I worry about people that want to knock down the testaments and symbols of the hard fought battles e.g., the flag. I worry about the people that would keep words like ‘discrimination’ in our vocabulary. I worry that we are becoming a very selfish society, that believes they are privileged so prey on putting focus on the few vs. the many, causing chaos. Yes the flag is just a flag, but if you believe in America it’s so much more, it’s a symbol and the most recognized symbol of freedom in the world. Who else can say that? It’s recognized because of what it stands for and the story it tells. The flag flies free because of what others have fought in order to preserve our way of life. Those battles have been fought by all race, creed and religions that came to our USA and called themselves “American.” I worry that people have forgotten that and when they do, they are spitting in the face of their fellow Americans. There’s a reason the flag is carried into battle, put on our planes, our ships, on our uniforms and flown outside of businesses, schools and government facilities. There’s a reason we pledge our allegiance to it. It’s a reminder and symbol of what we’ve fought for and what we continue to fight for. It’s symbolism gives us hope and strength to keep up the good fight and do the right thing. Symbols are meant to be seen and understood. I worry that we are beginning to purposely lose that understanding in lieu of the selfishness of the few.

The right thing isn’t always immediate nor tangible, but right does prevail and Independence Day represents that and stands as a reminder of what our ancestors fought so hard to move themselves far away from e.g., tyranny, socialism an oppression. We have to celebrate the victories, learn from the past and continue to move forward, which is done by not losing sight of the symbols that represent the very core of what this country stands – FREEDOM!