The events of July Fourth of 2014, more than any previous one, demonstrated just how far we’ve fallen from the principles of unyielding liberty, freedom and independence from a tyrannical government.
The 56 men who affixed their signatures on the Declaration of Independence 238 years (and one day) ago knew full well that by so doing, they were committing an act of treason against England for which they could be arrested, tried and hung. They recognized the seriousness of their enterprise by concluding the document with this phrase:
“… we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.”
Ironically, some women declared they couldn’t celebrate Independence Day this year because the Supreme Court earlier ruled that they couldn’t be dependent upon their employers for certain types of birth control.
Here are a few examples, compiled by the folks at Twitchy:
Y’all are so quick to forget the SCOTUS decision since it is the 4th of July. I refuse to celebrate a country that denies rights to women. — MC Sokolowski (@themcsays) July 4, 2014
Kind of ironic that Independence Day is right after #SCOTUS decided to go all Red Coat on my lady parts. — Kelly Gourluck (@kellyTWLOHA) July 4, 2014
It took a conservative to point out the true irony in this line of thinking:
I cannot celebrate Independence Day because a court said I cannot be dependent on others for birth control. LOL JK #ConservativeForLife — A Sassy Republican (@RepublicanYall) July 4, 2014
Of course, the reason the 56 signatories on the Declaration were willing to give up so much for their independence from England was to be able to live their lives secure from unreasonable government intrusion. But it seems that the city fathers of Lakewood, Ohio forgot this fact.
While they invited all the townsfolk to help them celebrate the Fourth at their local Lakewood Park, they also warned that everyone would be subject to mandatory searches and would be denied all the fun usually associated to Independence Day family fun.
Specifically, the Fourth Of July park rules provided that:
1. All generators, propane and gas fueled grills are prohibited.
2. All tents and shelters are prohibited.
3. Police will be conducting searches of bags and coolers for reasons of public safety.
4. No alcoholic beverages are permitted at any time throughout the year.
5. No personal fireworks. This includes novelty fireworks like sparklers.
6. No dogs or pets of any kind will be permitted in the park on July 4th.
7. The skate park, tennis courts, basketball courts and Kid’s Cove playground will be closed at 7:00 p.m.”
No sparklers? No beer? No family pets? Warrantless searches? As Young Conservatives opined, it was enough to make our country’s founders turn over in their graves.
Perhaps it can all be explained by a recent New York Times piece brought to the attention by actor James Woods. He tweeted:
The NYTimes, lapdog press for the DNC, now argues Big Government based on punctuation… http://t.co/DPnQ8dYylU — James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) July 3, 2014
Essentially, the Times suggests that the founders made a typographical error in the form of a misplaced period.
The period at issue concludes the phrase listing our essential rights, “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.” The next sentence states: “That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”
Therefore, by removing the period, government is added to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” as a fundamental right. Goodbye freedom, hello, Big Brother.
That rgument completely ignores the last half of the “government” sentence, which states: “That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”
My own thoughts? The government has long-past reached the point where it has become too intrusive, too powerful and “destructive of these ends.” It’s now the “Right of the People to alter or to abolish it.” In the words of Ronald Reagan:
“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.”
Freedom isn’t free — it takes vigilance and action.
