July 4th: A Time To Think

Independence Day is a great holiday. It is the official start of summer and is filled with fun things such as barbecues, picnics, fireworks, and going to the beach. While we are celebrating tomorrow, we should take some time out and think about the true meaning of the holiday. Over two hundred years ago, our Founding Fathers, a collection of the greatest minds the world has ever seen, chose freedom over tyranny and broke away from the British Empire. While this was done at considerable personal risk, the Founding Fathers knew that the reward of independence was even greater. I was reading the Declaration of Independence and the following part struck me:

"In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people."

Our Founding Fathers had the courage to stand up to King George. Yet today, very few of our political leaders have the courage to stand up to the latter-day "King George." Where would we be today if our modern-day politicians lived over two hundred years ago?