Why do we Celebrate?

This coming weekend is Fourth of July weekend. Millions of Americans are going to celebrate by going to watch the fireworks or have a cookout with some close friends and family. But other than the fact that some of us may have a 3 day weekend off from work, why do we celebrate this holiday?Let’s think about what caused this great nation to gain it’s independence from England. When the American colonies were under British rule, the Colonists were forced to pay high taxes on goods and services. They almost never received any benefit from paying the tax, as the money was sent thousands of miles across the Atlantic to England. After several failed peaceful attempts to gain some representation in the British Parliament, the Colonists felt as if they were trapped in a corner and felt that something drastic needed to be done. Granted not all Colonists felt this way, many were content with the way things were, wanting nothing more than just being able to go about their lives with as little disruption to their daily routine as they had for so many years. But there were some brave men who stepped forward, and voiced their opinion. Men such as Washington, Jefferson, Madison and others stepped forward to lead the colonists to a better life, where the government would have a minimal interference with their everyday lives.

After years of war, the Colonies finally were free from British rule. The war for Independence however did not come cheap. The Colonists called upon many of the content and not-so-content citizens to join the fight, many of whom died fighting for a cause that they would never be able to reap the benefits from. But they did so anyway. These people for the most part were just ordinary people. They came from all walks of life, but no matter what their profession they all had one thing in common. They were soldiers fighting for freedom. They constituted a militia force that could walk away from the battlefield at anytime, but didn’t. Even when they were fighting a losing battle, they fought on.

This is why we celebrate. We’re celebrating the birth of a nation, which allowed its citizens to truly be free. Americans during the first years of this nation’s history enjoyed more freedom than any other people had ever enjoyed in the civilized world.

The freedoms that the early Americans enjoyed are slowly being withered away, almost to the point that we’ve come full circle, as if we were still under British rule. We get taxed, granted it’s with representation, but still taxed, and most often those paying the tax never reap the intended benefits from it. The wealthy pay a hefty percentage of their income that funds programs that are not intended for them to benefit from, and some liberals like Hillary Clinton want wealthy Americans to pay more. Our freedom of religion is under attack, where it’s looked down upon when a school recites a pledge that contains the word “God”. Our Second Amendment rights are being violated everyday, but there are few who speak out against those who wish to confiscate guns from law abiding citizens. Illegal aliens are not only being allowed to cross into America, they’re being welcomed in as long as they don’t “break the law” while they’re here.

Celebrating our nation’s independence is a great way to remember the past, and those who sacrificed so much so that future generations would have a better future. But we have to remember that our freedoms can’t be taken for granted. No matter who you are, or where you come from, you must follow in the footsteps of our forefathers and petition the government when you observe actions that take away essential freedoms, such as religion, speech and the right to bear arms. If you petition goes unheard, speak louder. One person may not change a politician’s mind, but larger numbers will. Get your friends, neighbors, relatives, co-workers and anyone else who will listen to speak out against violations of our freedoms. If your collective voice still remains unheard, “the tree of liberty,” as Thomas Jefferson once said, “must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.” While this means is certainly undesired, in the most extreme situations is absolutely necessary. Luckily for us, the time to refresh our tree of liberty through less than peaceful means has not yet arrived. But it could, and again the success or failure of those who wish to protect our freedoms will come from volunteers. People who have never fought for anything more than better service at a restaurant will fight a battle to preserve the freedoms that they once knew.

So this weekend, celebrate the birth of this great nation. Remember the past, and those who fought for your freedom, but also remember the future. Remember that if, God forbid, the time comes for another revolution, it won’t be someone else’s battle like you see on CNN in distant lands. It’s going to be you, your friends, neighbors, relatives, co-workers and complete strangers who will be fighting. Have fun this weekend, but remain vigilant.