RichardHarlos.com

After just reading a friend’s blog about Independence Day in America (July 4th for those of you who are not American and perhaps not ‘up’ on American history), it feels as if he’s somehow ‘tuned in’ to my heart and put my thoughts and feelings in words as well as — perhaps even better than — I might have done.

So I’ll invite you to read his blog and then to return here for a ‘nightcap’ of closing thoughts. Please enjoy his blog post entitled Born On The Fourth Of July.

Okay, you’ve read that blog post and have returned here for my closing thoughts? Thank you! Here’s your reward:

“God forbid we should ever be 20 years without such a rebellion. … what country can preserve it’s liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? … The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots & tyrants. It is its natural manure.”

It’s been far more than 20 years and given the state of affairs in this nation, I’d say we’re long overdue for such a citizen-centric reminder to our government officials that they are elected by us, and are accountable to us, to serve our interests — no exceptions!

We, the people, are not all entirely dumbed-down; some of us still think for ourselves, and exercise our Constitutional right to speak our mind in public, and we await the time and opportunity to reclaim that which is, and has always been, our inalienable right: the right to direct ourselves as we see fit as free men and women, and who will not be silenced by inconvenience, intimidation or incarceration!

My passions align with those of Mr. Henry when he wrote,

“Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne! In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation. There is no longer any room for hope. If we wish to be free– if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending–if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained–we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of hosts is all that is left us!

They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. The millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable–and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come.

It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace– but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”

Happy 4th of July, America… I hope you understood what it is that this holiday was meant to exemplify, and that IF you celebrated, you had some sober sense of what it was that you chose to extol with fireworks and comraderie.