I was chatting with a friend this morning and he mentioned that he has been trying to convince his co-workers this week that we are not celebrating the 4th of July: we are celebrating INDEPENDENCE DAY. He makes an excellent point.
This holiday is not about BBQs and boat rides. It’s not about fireworks displays. It’s not about getting a day off work and a long weekend. It is about a time when our nation stood up on its hind legs and said, “We’ve had enough, England. We’re tired of over taxation. We’re tired of big government telling us what we can and cannot do, think and believe. We’re tired of Aristocrats looking down their noses at us and treating us as mindless rabble. We’re tired of being exploited and lied to.”
And we did something about it. A nation of farmers and shopkeepers took up arms and went toe-to-toe with the British military … and beat them. But not without significant loss of life and damage to property. In so doing, we earned the right to think for ourselves, to govern ourselves.
THAT is what the celebration held on July 4th is all about, and we would do well to remember Independence Day so we do not once again become dependent, which leads to subjugation.
By all means: fire up the grill, invite friends and family, and touch off some fireworks. But as you celebrate, remember that the celebration is not about burgers on the grill or booming starfires in the sky – it’s about freedom.
