As the United States grapples with its current challenges, it’s essential to acknowledge the significance of Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July. This holiday serves as a reminder of the nation’s founding principles and the importance of preserving freedom. If Americans better understood their role as the protectors of these principles, July 4 celebrations might take on a new level of significance, potentially inspiring people from all walks of life to join the patriot movement dedicated to saving America’s freedom.
The fact remains that the United States is the only nation born from noble and spiritual principles, rather than the result of war, bloodline, or geographic circumstance. The country’s founding documents, the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, enshrined the idea that all men are created equal, with unalienable rights that cannot be taken away by any authority. This has allowed Americans to pursue happiness, worship freely, and choose their leaders.
It’s essential to remember that the freedoms we enjoy today did not exist in Asia, the most populated part of the world, until after World War II. The spread of democratic self-government to India and Japan marked a significant turning point in human history. Despite the challenges facing freedom today, we can draw inspiration from our country’s history.
In the early years of the War of Independence, George Washington’s Continental Army faced significant odds, with an undertrained, underequipped, and underfunded force pitted against the highly trained British army. However, the courage, determination, and faith of the founders made the difference. The last sentence of the Declaration of Independence, which reads, “…for the support of this Declaration, with a firm Reliance on the Protections of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor,” reflects the founders’ unwavering commitment to their cause.
As we commemorate the Fourth of July, it’s essential to recognize the significance of the holiday. For the founders, July 4 was a somber occasion, marked by the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the beginning of the War of Independence. The document was not publicly announced until after the Continental Congress had fled Philadelphia, fearing British retaliation.
Despite the challenges facing the country, we can draw inspiration from the founders’ perseverance and faith. Washington’s victory at Yorktown marked the turning point in the War of Independence, and the subsequent adoption of the Constitution established the United States as a beacon of freedom and democracy.
In recent years, the country has drifted away from its founding principles, and the result has been a decline in moral and spiritual values. However, by rediscovering our faith in God and the cause of freedom, we can overcome the challenges facing our nation. As Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Ronald Reagan have all acknowledged, America is the last best hope of earth, and it’s essential that we reclaim our sovereignty over our freedoms and rights.
