Why We Celebrate this Uniguely American Holiday

By sometime this afternoon, most Americans will begin their Independence Day celebrations, remembering that 249 years ago, 55 men put their lives, their fortunes and their reputations on the line by declaring their independence forever from the tyranny of King George III and from the motherland, Great Britain.

 

They borrowed the words from many philosophers, including John Locke, when they claimed they were endowed with certain rights from their Creator, including that all men were created equal to pursue their rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

They wrote of the injustices of the King toward them and instead, how it would be different from that point moving forward.

They gave instuctions to the future, which is us, by giving us the authority to protect the freedoms they would die for with these words:

“But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”

These are the most important words of the document. It has been called upon only once in the 249 years since then, during the period we call the Civil War.

But then, we learned a lot as Americans since then, by freeing the slaves, granting voting rights to many Minorities and talking TO each other, rather than AT each other. And respecting each others’ opinions.

We celebrate that we are a unique nation, a melting pot of the world, where people from all over the world are welcomed when they come here legally. And integrate themselves into our society, swearing allegiance to our way of life, expecting liberty and justice for all.

So, blast those firecrackers, shoot off those Starbursts and light your sparklers as we remember those 55 men who gave us our liberties and freedoms we enjoy today, 249 years in the making.

Happy Independence Day!