In a matter of hours we'll be celebrating our Day of Independence here in the USA. We celebrate with our families and friends, over food and drink; watching fireworks in the evening after a day spotting warplanes as they fly-by.
Its an old tradition, and - as happens with Christmas, we tend to focus on the fun and forget some of the meaning.
But we shouldn't let this happen to arguably the most important US National Holiday of them all. We need to remember exactly what Independence means and why we must keep it.
So, when dawn rises on July 4, 2014, I will spend some time reflecting on the bravery of the founders of this Republic, and the close calls that could have ended the experiment before it began, because it was a close thing, folks.
I will also reflect on the dangers now threatening our Independence, and none of them involve being taken over by another country, or people, or culture. Our dangers come entirely from within, forced upon ourselves by domestic spying, irreparably divisive politics, and moral disconnects like gun-fans who equate Independence with the ability to stand their ground, no matter what. Dangers come from crazy rulings that corporations are people and can have religious beliefs and spend unlimited money in elections. And from government vendettas against investigative journalism - Egypt may imprison news crews but so do we.
We've had times of danger to our independence before, and we've always survived them. The time since September 2001 has been particularly bad, though, and the threats have been unrelenting to the point that survival of our Independence is in doubt.
The Patriot Act - so named to make anyone considering voting against its intrusive provisions appear treasonous, started us off under a wall of fear. And it has only gotten worse. Even our progressive President and his Democratic Party have drunk the koolaid and invaded our privacy. Put people on watch-lists and no-fly lists on meager evidence with no viable means of redress. Even killed American citizens overseas without due process.
Its not looking good, folks. Independence in American is down on one knee and is having trouble rising back up. And now that good knee is looking a little shaky too.
So on July 4, 2014, remember that our founders rebelled against Britain not because they particularly wanted America to be a separate county, but because the British government - their own government - had taken away a measure of their Independence, and they wanted it back.
Spend some time thinking about that and the state of our Independence today; where its headed, and what that may mean for you and your family. Practice your right to Independent ideas and reflect. It may be an increasingly rare opportunity.
Its an old tradition, and - as happens with Christmas, we tend to focus on the fun and forget some of the meaning.
But we shouldn't let this happen to arguably the most important US National Holiday of them all. We need to remember exactly what Independence means and why we must keep it.
So, when dawn rises on July 4, 2014, I will spend some time reflecting on the bravery of the founders of this Republic, and the close calls that could have ended the experiment before it began, because it was a close thing, folks.
I will also reflect on the dangers now threatening our Independence, and none of them involve being taken over by another country, or people, or culture. Our dangers come entirely from within, forced upon ourselves by domestic spying, irreparably divisive politics, and moral disconnects like gun-fans who equate Independence with the ability to stand their ground, no matter what. Dangers come from crazy rulings that corporations are people and can have religious beliefs and spend unlimited money in elections. And from government vendettas against investigative journalism - Egypt may imprison news crews but so do we.
We've had times of danger to our independence before, and we've always survived them. The time since September 2001 has been particularly bad, though, and the threats have been unrelenting to the point that survival of our Independence is in doubt.
The Patriot Act - so named to make anyone considering voting against its intrusive provisions appear treasonous, started us off under a wall of fear. And it has only gotten worse. Even our progressive President and his Democratic Party have drunk the koolaid and invaded our privacy. Put people on watch-lists and no-fly lists on meager evidence with no viable means of redress. Even killed American citizens overseas without due process.
Its not looking good, folks. Independence in American is down on one knee and is having trouble rising back up. And now that good knee is looking a little shaky too.
So on July 4, 2014, remember that our founders rebelled against Britain not because they particularly wanted America to be a separate county, but because the British government - their own government - had taken away a measure of their Independence, and they wanted it back.
Spend some time thinking about that and the state of our Independence today; where its headed, and what that may mean for you and your family. Practice your right to Independent ideas and reflect. It may be an increasingly rare opportunity.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment