June 29, 2009
On July 4, 2009, it will have been 233 years since a brave group of men, and their families, put it all on the line to form a new country. Let us be clear about this, the men who started this country were rebels; they took on the established government. If they had not been successful in their rebellion, they would certainly have lost all of their material possessions and likely their lives.
With great clarity, they declared their position in the Declaration of Independence. It reads, in part: “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.”
Well, after 233 years, how are we doing with preserving this declaration?
On balance, I think we have done very well in comparison with other countries and that America continues to be the envy of the world. Even when crowds in Iran and other places shout “death to America,” the individuals in the crowd would knock you down to get to the nearest departure airport were they offered U.S. Citizenship, or even a job in the US.
Why are we the envy of the world?
Freedom to prosper, freedom to worship, freedom to associate with others, freedom to start a business, freedom to fail, even the freedom to wear whatever you want.
The desire for freedom is an innate, human emotion. Everyone has a need for freedom, almost like the need for an essential like water. When compared to the rest of the world, you can satisfy your thirst in America.
So, as we pause for Independence Day, are there any concerns that need to be addressed to ensure that we maintain our freedoms? Possibly.
For example, there are two major areas where some seem willing to exchange freedom for security:
- Economic Security – Higher taxes in exchange for government attempts at economic security, such as the bailout of failed businesses and the jobs they represent. Would you accept a lower, but guaranteed, salary for life in exchange for the opportunity to start a business or to attempt to secure a better salary? Probably you would not but many would. The only way that the government can intervene in private enterprise is by assessing more and more taxes. So, who do you want to trust with your economic security, the government or fellow business people with something to win or lose?
- Personal Freedoms – Forfeiture of privacy for perceived enhancement of security. This seems reasonable, until the moment in time that your ethnicity, religion or lifestyle becomes something other than “mainstream” and you become the one that is not favored by the government.
So, as we head into our country’s 234th year, we need to stay alert to overt and concealed attacks on our freedoms. Many before us have paid a dear price for the freedoms we now enjoy and make us the envy of the world. Let us not be among those that squander this great gift that has been extended to us.
Whenever you see any of our freedoms being undermined, speak up. Do not sit idly and let these freedoms evaporate. Write your congressman. Become involved in local affairs.
Let your voice be heard so that freedom will forever ring in our special country. Add your comments to the Blog.
Thanks,
Ted S. Miller