By Rebecca DiFede – On July 4th, 1776, our forefathers passed a declaration of their independence from the British crown stating, among other things, that they considered themselves “absolved from allegiance” to the tyrannical rule that had governed their lives for so long. They spoke of the “authority of the good people of these colonies” to sever these ties and made it clear that they were taking their freedom into their own hands, and such, our great nation was born.
As we prepare to celebrate the 235th anniversary of this momentous occasion, it is our duty to remember the message that our founders were so stridently advocating. We the people, not our government, have the power to make an impact on the way our country runs. We are free to lobby congressmen, host protests and publish articles expressing either praise or disdain for the current administration and expect no retribution for doing so. For those are the beauty of freedom, and the very essence of what John Hancock, Thomas Jefferson and the rest of the framers had fought so hard to create.
Our current administration, much like that of King George’s revolutionary era rule, has caused widespread unrest and distrust of the government by the American people. However, unlike in the colonial era, we don’t need bloodshed to free ourselves from tyranny. We simply need to stand together, list our grievances, and await the start of the 2012 election when the American people will decide the fate of our nation.
In the meantime, and especially on an occasion such as July 4th, remember the power that our forefathers fought so hard for us to have, and that so many currently fight for us to maintain. We the people are in charge of our own freedom, and only we can decide who gets to regulate it, which is what makes America the greatest country on Earth.
Happy Independence Day, and God Bless America.
Rebecca Difede is a contributing editor to Americans for Limited Government (ALG).