When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them...These men well understood what independence was. They knew that they were facing one of the world's superpowers both on land and at sea. While they had hopes of forging alliances, there were no guarantees, no one to save them should they falter nothing but their own resolve and courage.
IndependentThese brave souls were renouncing a secure future in favor of freedom. They found freedom more appealing than tyranny and freedom cannot exist without independence.
The state or quality of being independent; freedom from dependence; exemption from reliance on, or control by, others; self-subsistence or maintenance; direction of one's own affairs without interference.
It's not surprising really. People that came to the American Colonies at the time were independent by nature. They chose to leave the "civilized" countries of Europe, to risk it all in a land that was largely unexplored and under populated. A land where simple survival was often a daunting task. A land ill-suited to the faint of heart, but a land whose distance from Europe made it largely possible for one to chose their own destiny.
That was until the Old World started to exert its authority over the New in order to control its wealth. The colonials of the time got little from the English government, yet much was taken. For that reason and many others they severed their ties to a government and king who were becoming more and more tyrannical.
Ultimately, the English colonies in America won their freedom and formed the United States of America. Since that time, our spirit of self-reliance and our collective determination to succeed has made us the greatest nation in history. But it all started with independence from Great Britain.
Independence. Independence is more than simple freedom. It's the freedom to chose, freedom to succeed, and freedom to fail all wrapped up in one word. It means that you're responsible for every choice, every mistake, every victory.
Independence is the bedrock upon which our country was built and it is fitting that its declaration was the first step toward a new country built upon that very principle.
Unfortunately, independence itself is under assault. Its opponents would create a system of laws purported to achieve some elusive yet admirable goal - the effect of which is to create dependence on an outside party.
Whether it's global warming (or the absurd and cynical label of "climate change"), or health care, or the economy, the solutions proposed by the enemies of independence always create dependence on government. Dependence destroys freedom as no one can be truly free when they are dependent upon another.
There's little doubt that we live in a great country. But we wonder how long our freedoms will endure when dependence is not only being encouraged but forced upon the public. Independence built this country. Its demise will surely be its downfall.
This Independence Day, consider those things that you depend on and whether or not you have a choice. If you cannot chose to be independent you are not truly free.
15 comments:
Where are all the other blog posts? Are you upset because they did not put the people you campaign for in a positive light. This blog is truing into a joke.
We can never be sure that the opinion we are endeavoring to stifle is a false opinion; and if we were sure, stifling it would be an evil still. ~John Stuart Mill, On Liberty, 1859
Think for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so, too. ~Voltaire
The peculiar evil of silencing the expression of an opinion is, that it is robbing the human race; posterity as well as the existing generation; those who dissent from the opinion, still more than those who hold it. If the opinion is right, they are deprived of the opportunity of exchanging error for truth: if wrong, they lose, what is almost as great a benefit, the clearer perception and livelier impression of truth, produced by its collision with error. ~John Stuart Mill, On Liberty, 1859
The test of democracy is freedom of criticism. ~David Ben-Gurion
Censorship offends me. ~Author Unknown
If we don't believe in freedom of expression for people we despise, we don't believe in it at all. ~Noam Chomsky
I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it. ~Voltaire
"Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost."
-- Thomas Jefferson
"I am opposed to any form of tyranny over the mind of man."
-- Thomas Jefferson
"Freedom of the Press, if it means anything at all, means the freedom to criticize and oppose."
-- George Orwell
"Censorship reflects society's lack of confidence in itself. It is a hallmark of an authoritarian regime."
-- Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart
Quote: "But we wonder how long our freedoms will endure when dependence is not only being encouraged but forced upon the public."
One wonders if you were also at the Martin Heinrich, "I am a god, sit down and listen to me" town hall meeting last Thursday?
Martin and the rest seem to think they have all the answers and will force it down our throats in a very undemocratic manner. We are not allowed to voice our objections.
Jefferson, so beloved by the Democrats, is rolling over in his grave today seeing how his dream of a SMALL government, personal responsibility has been bastardized in his name.
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
I have recently changed my voting party to libertarian. I believe in the idea, "You leave me alone and I'll leave you alone". There are many reasons for my change in philosophy, but since this is a bag on the cops blog I'll do just that. First, I ask that each and every one of you ask yourself this question: Does the Albuquerque Police Department make you feel safe and secure?
We don't need the police. The department is a tax payer burden! The officers earn their living off tax payer dollars and what do we get in return? Officers congregating at restaurants offering free or discounted food; officers parked behind buildings taking naps; officers participating in "professional courtesies" to other officers, family members, and friends; officers writing rediculous traffic citations avoiding calls from citizens when you need one; officers lying about probable cause; officers lying under oath; etc...I can go on and on.
I'm sure someone is thinking right now, "what does he know, he's never been a cop. He doesn't know what it's like to be shot at!" Well, if you don't like being shot at, then change jobs. And whether or not a cop is being shot at or I'm being shot at, the cops can't help anyway because of the aforementioned criteria.
I say we disban the police department and the citizens protect themselves. I guarantee this city will be a much safer place. Would you really try to violate someone granted the freedom to blow your head in self defense? Instead we're relegated to feeling humiliated at the crime scene while the cops finish their super mexican combo plate at Taco Cabana!
By the way, I'm a law abiding citizen tired of being accosted by criminals and cops.
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