While we’re out having BBQs and launching fireworks for “agricultural reasons” (according to Florida law), I’d like to reflect on why we celebrate over the 4th of July weekend.

On July 4th, 1776 the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence. This was the Representatives of the United States of America declaring independence from the British Empire. They knew what this nation could possibly face going up against the empire with the most powerful military on earth, but they believed in the people. It was just 3% of the nation’s population that took up arms and fought, but they were willing to go to their death for the liberty of future generations. Something the Europeans in their big cities couldn’t understand was just how willing a hard working American is willing to die to preserve that liberty for the future of others. Thomas Jefferson even believed it was the community and unity of the American people that preserves our liberty. With the common religious virtues that George Washington, James Madison, John Adam, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson constantly referred to, the people would always preserve liberty.

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. -Declaration of Independence

Like traditional Americans, we don’t believe a right is physical, but something God given. Rights can’t be invented or evolve, they’ve always existed. Our founders didn’t leave this idea out of our Constitution which was ratified on June 17th, 1788. There aren’t a finite amount of rights and not all could be written on some paper. So within the Bill of Rights the 9th Amendment states, “The enumeration in the Constitution of certain rights shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.” This was basically put here to say even rights not clearly mentioned in the Constitution shall not be denied. Our country fought for independence in the name of liberty and our founder’s helped form a nation structured in a way to preserve liberty for a very long time. It is inspiring to see just how much they predicted and knew by looking back at history previous to American history. Just looking through George Washington’s farewell address he warned of separating religious virtues from justice, and the tyrannical outcome of political parties.

Millions of people for almost 250 years have died for the same righteous cause. To uphold these rights our forefathers fought for. Within the Declaration of Independence we learn what kind of tyranny the King was pushing on the States and why they declared independence.  Listen to these few examples and maybe you’ll think of a few scary similarities between our current leaders and the King we fought against.

-He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
-He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual… for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
-He has erected a multitude of New Offices, sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.
-He has combined with others to subject us to jurisdiction foreign to our constitution…

(And many more to mention. I suggest you click on the link on the bottom of this page to read our whole Declaration of Independence this 4th of July. After all, it’s more related to this day than car sales and hot dogs.)

Today we celebrate our liberty and renew our patriotism towards this never ending battle to preserve it. May you all uphold the virtues and responsibilities that protect our liberty this 4th, and no matter what faces this country in the future keep in mind it only took 3% to liberate this country the first time.

Godspeed and Simper Fidelis

Declaration of Independence: http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html