The Fourth of July

To me, the Fourth of July is a time to celebrate the the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America, to reflect upon the idea of independence and what it means to be a nation of independent citizens. The people who emigrated from Europe to North America, like the indigenous people who populated the lands that came to be the United States, were very self reliant people. They had to rely solely upon themselves and the voluntary assistance of their neighbors to survive and thrive. Every person's primary focus was upon providing the necessities for survival for themselves and their families. Each lived close to nature and worked hard at coaxing nature to provide for their sustenance.

Self reliance means that one looks only to self to provide for his own needs, happiness and destiny. Self reliance means free from external control and constraint in action and judgment. Self reliance is the foundation of individual liberty. The people understood that the freedom to choose one's own path in life could be rewarded with a very happy existence or it could be rewarded by failure and misery. It is this same self reliance that gave birth to and instilled in the immigrants a strong belief in the liberty of the individual to run his own life. Since each person had to rely solely upon himself for his survival each person made his own choices and lived with the consequences. They had their neighbors to voluntarily help them in times of need and to provide for the settlement's defense, and they, likewise, voluntarily helped their neighbors. They understood and accepted that certain customs needed to be followed as they brought orderliness to the society, but they viewed any such governing body as the agent and servant of the members of the community. Those governing bodies made decisions regarding the defense and order of the community, to which each member of the community pledged his cooperation and support.

The new Americans grew to view any authority imposed by the existing British government as conflicting with their self reliance and individual liberty. The concept of a government three thousand miles away that dictated matters affecting their lives was contrary to the self reliant lives they were leading. Slowly, over time, the idea began to develop that they did not need a government which was not relevant to their lives and not responsive to their voices. Their settlements worked very well for them and were responsive to them. It was all the authority they needed and wanted. It is with generally held belief that when a government on another continent imposed edicts from above that the colonists would have no more of it and declared their independence.

At this particular time in history a group of unique individuals possessed by this spirit of self reliance and individual liberties came together to plan for the independence of the colonies of the United States of America. Many were men learned in the writings of the great European thinkers from the period called the Renaissance. Their original purpose was not to declare the colonies independent but to try and present their grievances to the British government. It was only when the government of King George III turned a deaf ear to their complaints that they began to think about and actually plan for independence.

To understand the gravities and burden of declaring the colonies independent think about the State of New Mexico, for example, considering declaring itself independent from the United States. One almost laughs out loud at the thought but consider what would be going through the peoples' minds if the thought were serious. It is a very heavy burden, especially knowing that the government will bring all its forces and resources to bear to prevent such independence. The signers knew that the chances of war were very high and chances of success were very slim. They knew many would die, many would be imprisoned and many would lose all their businesses, farms, homes and everything they had worked hard for. It was no light undertaking for the men who met to draft and sign the Declaration of Independence.

“What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!” Patrick Henry, March 23, 1775.

Independence, liberty and self reliance can be very intimidating ideas, especially to those who do not really want the burdens that self reliance requires. Self reliance and individual liberty are both double edged swords. The freedom to chose one's own destiny is also the freedom to suffer for the choices made. The freedom to chose one's own destiny requires the responsibility of educating oneself so one can make wiser choices. The belief in individual liberty carries with it the responsibility to recognize and respect the rights of others to chose their own liberty. Self reliance and individual liberty means not being able to rely upon any other person, group or government to make one's way in this life. Of the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence several were killed or captured and imprisoned by the British. About a dozen had their homes and businesses destroyed. Many were left bankrupt and penniless. Some never saw their families again. Freedom is not free.

It is this spirit that founded the United States of America. It is a spirit that did not look to any other person, group or government to provide the things that each colonists needed to survive and thrive. It is this spirit that believed in individual effort and the voluntary assistance on neighbors. Today, a lot of that spirit is alive in theory but dead in practice. The spirit of self reliance upon which the idea of individual liberty is founded is only practiced in part by the modern day recipients of the bounty of those colonists. Somewhere in our history the concept of voluntary assistance and charity became mandatory assistance and charity by government fiat. Many of the descendants from the original colonists now talk in terms of entitlements and “freedom from” instead of “freedom to.” Advocating such an idea would have gotten one run out of the colony at the time of the Declaration of Independence.

So on July 4 every year I still sit with my glass of Cabernet and read the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States, both incredible documents. I marvel at what those men and women brought forth at the founding of this Nation and I thank them with all my heart and spirit. I think of all the American citizens who have fought and and those who died to protect the ides that our founders gave us and I thank them with all my heart and spirit. I also think sadly about how we as a Nation have failed to live up to the original hopes, dreams and aspirations of those founders and protectors who gave so much to make and preserve us a Nation.

Today we celebrate our founders' and defenders' efforts and sacrifices but we dishonor their ideas and dreams in practice. If those founders could come back today for a visit they would marvel at our great productive capacity and tremendous progress as a Nation. But what would they think of our lack of self reliance and individual liberties. What would Patrick Henry say about the chains and slavery we have accepted?