4th of July Reflections: Freedom is Not for the Faint-Hearted
"How do they do that?" I asked to no one in particular. I was driving across Massachusetts yesterday. While reveling in the lush beauty of the countryside and listening to Ray Charles sing America The Beautiful, I tried to imagine how it must have looked to inhabitants of the state, having won their independence from Great Britain, to emerge as free people. How boundless the possibilities must have seemed to those who had risked everything for their freedom, and won a victory that went directly against the strong tide of history where man is subjugated by other men. How open the world must have seemed to these people, the only boundaries being those of the imagination. But that didn't answer the question immediately at hand, which was, …how the heck do those little bushes grow straight up out of the giant rocks on the hillside? I mean, it was all I could do to stay in my lane while staring at those stupid boulders with stuff growing out of them!
But nature has unyielding determination, as did the people of Massachusetts who jealously guarded their liberty, becoming the 6th state to ratify the Constitution, on February 6, 1788, and the first state whose ratification included a list of proposed amendments to further protect against federal encroachment. The state that would become infamous as a breeding ground of evangelists for bigger government, listed as its first suggested amendment; "That it be explicitly declared that all powers not expressly delegated by the aforesaid Constitution are reserved to the several states, to be by them exercised."
How far we've come. How far, exactly? Compare some of the grievances listed in the Declaration of Independence, whose signing we commemorate, with recent news items:
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
Obama Administration decides not to enforce the Defense of Marriage Act.
Obama Announces Dramatic Immigration Policy Change: "The election-year move amounts to President Barack Obama's administration essentially enacting a version of the Dream Act, legislation that Congress has been deadlocked on for years."
"Catholic Institutions Join Effort to Stop Obamacare's Religious Liberty Violation"
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
"Justice Department Shields Holder from Prosecution After Contempt Vote"
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
Despite the refusal of the people's representatives to pass a Cap and Trade law, the Obama Administration's EPA is implementing same, costing jobs and doing enormous damage to the coal industry.
Obamacare adds at least 159 new government agencies, and 16,500 new IRS agents.
"State Agent Tells Preschooler She Can't Eat Home-packed Lunch"
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies, without the Consent of our legislatures.
"When the EPA Swat Team comes a knocking'"
"Police Raid Rawesome Foods, Dump Raw Milk"
"Environmental Enforcement Leaves Musicians in Fear"
"Why Is The Federal Government Raiding Organic Farmers With SWAT Teams?"
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
"Justice Ginsburg Backs Value of Foreign Law"
"Supreme Court Citing More Foreign Cases"
"Florida Judge OK's Sharia Law to be Used in U.S. Court Case"
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
"Individual Mandate in Obamacare is Constitutional - Penalty Is A Tax"
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
"Homeland Security Cancels Arizona Immigration Enforcement Agreements"
Had enough yet? And just what is the federal government doing with all this newfound power? For starters, it's teaching Border Patrol agents that when confronted with an "active shooter," (that is, a rogue shooter in a public place such as a mall for instance) they have three options: 1) Run. 2) Hide 3) As a last resort, confront the shooter by throwing things at him (things such as chairs, shoes, anything but bullets). Not to worry, though. The feds may be losing their infernal minds, but what little local authority remains is being used wisely, so all is quiet on the local front, right? Too quiet, actually because the town of Depoe Bay, Oregon, for example, has cancelled it's 4th of July fireworks display under pressure from federal wildlife managers (do the animals have to file taxes too?) who maintain that the bombs bursting in air will rattle the sea birds.
Come to think of it, sea birds aren't the only ones frightened of the rockets red glare. Channeling his inner sea bird, Bill Press recently expressed his misgivings about our National Anthem, saying, "I mean when you think about it, it's bombs bursting in air rocket's red glare it's all kinds of, you know a lot of national anthems are that way, all kinds of military jargon and the land there's only phrase 'the land of the free' which is kind of nice and 'the home of the brave?' I don't know." I do, Bill. Were it not the home of the brave, it wouldn't be the land of the free, and for that you may thank the people who dispatch the bombs and the rockets.
Surveying the above list, however, and knowing that many more items could be added to it, the question arises; is this still the land of the free? Regretfully, I don't think so. Would any of the states who ratified the Constitution have done so had they known that the federal government would prohibit them from defending their own borders? Would Massachusetts have ratified it if they had known that the first amendment they proposed, which later became the 10th Amendment, would become meaningless? Would the people who fought and bled in the American Revolution have joined the union knowing that an American President would later issue one dictate after another in direct contravention of the law of the land, the law which he took an oath to uphold? Would Abraham Lincoln have preferred to destroy his Bible rather than see a future President desecrate it by placing his hand on it to take an oath that he had no intention of upholding? Are we worthy heirs of liberty purchased with the blood of generations of patriots?
The hour is late, and the moment urgent. Moderates didn't risk their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor by signing the Declaration of Independence. The men who signed that document went, as they say, "all in." The weak of heart didn't storm the beaches at Normandy. There was no compromise at Iwa Jima. Liberty isn't cheap, and can be lost much more easily than earned. Do we have the heart to reclaim liberty in America? The answer lies in the heart of the free man, if there are enough of us left. Life, Liberty, the Pursuit of Happiness, …these are the gifts of "Nature's God," and nature has unyielding determination.
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Jun '12
Re: 4th of July Reflections: Freedom is Not for the Faint-Hearted
My second response, Mr. Roberts, is to say that economic freedoms are best protected by personal freedoms, such as the freedoms to worship and to speak one's mind. The growth of "hate speech" laws in many former British colonies makes me think they are likelier to lose their economic freedoms, and America likelier to gain hers, than vice versa.
It may be that this generation may be called upon to make the same sacrifices as the founding one before we gain back the full breadth of freedom for which they fought. I, for one, hope I am ready to sacrifice my life, fortune, and sacred honor for this land's freedom.
Dec '10
Re: 4th of July Reflections: Freedom is Not for the Faint-Hearted
Technically, you win wars by making the other guy sacrifice HIS life, fortune, and sacred honor.
Just sayin'.
If we gotta fight, it's best to remember that dying is not the point.
Apr '11
Re: 4th of July Reflections: Freedom is Not for the Faint-Hearted
Excellent, Dave. Thank you so much. I will keep these points in mind as I do my annual reading of the Declaration later today.
May '10
Re: 4th of July Reflections: Freedom is Not for the Faint-Hearted
Hey Dave, one of the commenters on my Gateway Pundit post last night posted a link to your beautifully written essay for everyone to go read. You're not just a rock star on Ricochet.
Jun '12
Re: 4th of July Reflections: Freedom is Not for the Faint-Hearted
Dave Carter
Okay, now I get the point. I think November is the crucial point here,...but it is the starting point. If we're able to throw the statists out of the White House and both branches of Congress, then the fight continues to keep those we elect faithful to their oath. · 15 hours ago
Only a starting point....and only if the GOP really means what it says.
I'm not suggesting a 2nd or as some may say a 3rd revolution. I guess what I am saying is, it is our job to not only get them elected but also let them know we are dead serious.
Jul '11
Re: 4th of July Reflections: Freedom is Not for the Faint-Hearted
Thank you, Dave.
And, I'm glad I wasn't drinking coffee when I read about Bill Press "[c]hanneling his inner sea bird." The consequences for the computer might have been unfavorable.
Re: 4th of July Reflections: Freedom is Not for the Faint-Hearted
Thank ya kindly, Andrea! Your Gateway article was superb, by the way. Good information, and robustly presented. Great work.
Apr '11
Re: 4th of July Reflections: Freedom is Not for the Faint-Hearted
Tom Roberts: since you're all celebrating getting rid of us today, I can't resist making the following observation. There are 7 former British colonies in the top 10 of the Heritage Foundation index of economic freedom.
The USA is ranked 10th.
I have great admiration for the Founders, but I do sometimes wonder why they bothered. · 16 hours ago
I'm inclined to think of our war of independence as being fought more specifically against King George. There are a number of writers and historians (maybe even Niall Ferguson is somewhere in there) who suggest that the American Revolution was not necessarily a rebuke of Britain but in fact a reaffirmation of British socio-political thought. In some ways, the signers of the declaration were asserting rights they believed all British Subjects held and understood. (consider Jefferson's lament about the lack of British popular support for the revolution: "we might have been a free people together").
Apr '11
Re: 4th of July Reflections: Freedom is Not for the Faint-Hearted
Tom Roberts: There are 7 former British colonies in the top 10 of the Heritage Foundation index of economic freedom. (Actually 8 if you count Ireland, but never mind...).
The USA is ranked 10th.
I think Heritage Foundation list shows just shows how impressive the Anglosphere is. Margaret Thatcher held that it was a great force for good in the world. People like James Delingpole and Daniel Hannan talk about the importance of strong ties between the English speaking nations.
Jun '12
Re: 4th of July Reflections: Freedom is Not for the Faint-Hearted
CoolHand
Technically, you win wars by makingthe other guysacrificeHISlife, fortune, and sacred honor.
Just sayin'.
If we gotta fight, it's best to remember that dying is not the point. · 6 hours ago
I agree, CoolHand (or should I say Patton?) but I think the point is to be ready to do so. If I'm not mistaken, 1 or 2 signers of the Declaration of Independence died in British custody during the war, and some of the signers had British troops occupying their property at the time they signed, ensuring that they would (at least for the foreseeable future) lose their worldly wealth.
Ergo, the point isn't to die, but to run the risk of death. Freedom is worth that risk.