--- I posted this last year from the year before,
and it was well received. And so I post it again in hope that it lifts
up someone's spirit and reminds them of the foundation of this great
country on its birthday. Here is the wonderful mix that Alton, made for me two years ago. He'd asked me to record this post, and then he added music. Listen or read - but enjoy either way!
04 July, 2008 - I've made some minor edits, so the audio version won't match exactly with this written version. Have a blessed and safe celebration of our Independence!
Two hundred thirty two years ago, a group of men - men of influence,
wisdom, and courage - gathered together to sign a Document and birth a
Nation:
IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,
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
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. Prudence, indeed, will dictate
that Governments long established should not be changed for light and
transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that
mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than
to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are
accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing
invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under
absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off
such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.
And
so began the war for our Independence, a war where we threw off the
stifling apron-strings of our Mother, Britain, and began our journey of
discovery. The War was long, and fraught with set-backs, disasters,
tremendous hardship, and discouragement. But through it all, one man
held true to the ideal and fought with dogged determination to keep his
army and his new country from giving in.
General George Washington. He was not necessarily a brilliant man, but he was
honorable and resolute. He had been given the duty of defeating the
British and winning the War, and he pursued his orders with unflinching
persistence.
And in October of 1781, the British General, Cornwallis, surrendered at Yorktown, VA.
The United States of America was free.
But freedom doesn't come easily. The States had adopted the Articles
of Confederation in early 1781. The Articles gave the States many
sovereign powers, and any changes to the Articles had to be approved by
nine of the thirteen States. Federal power was practically
non-existent: it couldn't raise taxes, it couldn't regulate trade, it
couldn't stop States from printing their own money.
With authority to act scattered throughout the States, and an anemic
central government, America threatened to dissolve into a group of
bickering little provinces. The States had their own armies, their own
international ambassadors, they argued over interstate trade, the
justice system left quite a bit to be desired. In other words, it was a
bit of a mess!
In 1786, after much unrest and disputes among the States, James
Madison and Alexander Hamilton petitioned that the Constitutional
Convention convene to write a new Constitution which would strengthen
and unify our young Nation. The man the Convention elected to preside
over this process was none other than George Washington, the man all
Americans look on as our First Father. General Washington was reluctant
- he had recently lost his brother, and he preferred to remain at Mount
Vernon, managing his lands. Finally, however, he accepted the duty, and
made his way to Pennsylvania.
Under
his calm influence, eventually each of the States made compromises and
came to agreements, negotiated the power of the Federal Government and
State Governments, outlined the authorities of the branches of the
Federal Government, and placed the ultimate power of Government firmly
in the hands of the People. The first draft was accepted in August of
1787 after months of wrangling and debating. Five weeks later, on
September 17th, the convention dismissed, and the Constitution went to
the States for ratification. It wasn't until July of 1788 that the
Convention received word that the ninth State, South Carolina had
ratified the Constitution.
Finally, enough States had accepted the Constitution to begin to
implement its laws. Of course, there was further debate about the Bill
of Rights, which were passed by a total of three quarters of the States
by late 1791, but now America had her "supreme Law of the Land," which
began:
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.
Thus we began to work out this fine balance between the Power and
Authority of the People, and that of the Government. Men and women have
stepped up to serve our country in war and in peace throughout our
230-year history. Elected officials, military, police, firemen, medical
personnel, charity organizations, human rights groups, and so many more
have furthered the cause of Freedom and Liberty in our country.
But for me, no group deserves our honor and our respect more than
the men and women who serve her in our Armed Forces. Each man and woman
who enters the military takes this oath:
...I will support and defend the Constitution of
the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I
will bear true faith and allegiance to the same...
Our men and women do not swear to a particular leader.
They are not members of a cult of personality. They swear to uphold the
Law, and the Supreme Law of the United States of America is the
Constitution. At this time, they are engaged in combat against an enemy that hates everything America stands for, and unfortunately, some of those enemies are here at home. As civilian citizens, we owe it to them to honor their service and to protect the freedom, independence and dedication to duty which our Founders bequeathed to us.
Freedom isn't free, and the Tree of Liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is what the Fourth of July means to
me. "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness," "We the People," and
"I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same." I would hope that each citizen of this beloved country would rededicate themselves to the principles of our Declaration of Independence and our Constitution and work together to keep America strong and just.
Happy 232nd birthday, America! I love you dearly, and pray that God
will continue to bless and guide you. I pray that you will always be
that "shining city on the hill," a light and example to the rest of the
world of Freedom and Liberty.
Happy birthday!
UPDATE: Here are some other extremely worthy posts to read -
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