Today marks the 237th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Some people do not realize that the American Revolution began nearly a year earlier, on April 19, 1775 and would continue another eight years, before fighting ceased on September 3, 1783. That a few hundred poorly trained citizens-turned-soldiers were able to defeat the most powerful military force in the world (at that time) was truly astounding. It was said that the first shot of the American Revolution was "heard around the world," but the VICTORY of the new republic was major world news! World history was (and would be) changed in such a way as no American could have imagined back in 1783.
Today in America we can say (and it would be true!) that there are many things wrong in this nation. Most of us could spend several minutes (some of us probably several HOURS) listing the problems facing this country, things that are not right in this country, and things we would like to change in this country. But today, I choose to see the many things that are RIGHT with America.
First of all, our nation is a nation under the law as given by one of the greatest documents ever written by human beings. This nation was formed around the idea that all people were born with INALIENABLE rights, such that no man, no governing body, no military, nor any other human institution, could take from us. The Constitution of the United States enumerated rights which God (referred to as the Creator) gave to men, and which were never to be taken away; but the Constitution went one step further. This great document also limited the power of the government, outlined the powers of each branch of the government, and then went on reserve any other powers not accorded the government to the people themselves, or the states.
Even with all that is going on in America today, we are all still protected by the Bill of Rights, as the first ten amendments are called. Included in those (inalienable) rights are freedom of speech and religion, freedom to be secure in our home from unreasonable government search or arrest, and also the right to bear arms, which Congress shall not infringe. No other nation guarantees its citizens these rights. Some nations come close, but none meet the standards of our Bill of Rights. We should not take these rights for granted, since they were bestowed by the Creator. Not everyone in the world lives under these standards, so we should all count our blessings.
Along with the near-sacred Bill of Rights, we Americans enjoy a standard of living and a standard of convenience that many people, even in England, do not enjoy. We can assemble (PEACEFULLY) to protest or to make demands of our government. We do not routinely fear contact with police officers or members of the military. In fact, in the vast, vast majority of our interactions with law enforcement, the military, and any other local or national government contact, we are treated fairly or at least strictly in accordance with our constitutional rights. The vast majority of the time we are not subject to misconduct by police, government, or military officials. In fact, a political science professor whom I studied under several years ago proved to us with his own research that in all levels of American government (or bureaucracy, if you will) the processes work correctly over 85% of the time. Not many other nations can make this claim. Also, the vast majority of us go to sleep at night in relative peace, not fearing that someone will invade our home during the night, and more importantly, not fearing that some federal, state, or local enforcement agency will come bursting through our door while we are sleeping. Again, many nations do not enjoy this...this freedom.
Americans, and even immigrants who are not yet citizens, have almost unlimited opportunities to work in any profession or career they desire, and to reach for nearly unlimited heights in these careers, and to strive for income levels unsurpassed in other nations around the world. No one can force a person into a certain career or vocation here in America. We all have the freedom to choose what we do for a living, how much education we seek, how high we go in any organization, or even to work alone in an individual business endeavor if we so desire. Above all, Americans are free to make for themselves the life they desire, to live where they want, to travel freely between the States, to launch or change careers, in other words, to be who we want to be, and to be free.
Freedom...
That is really the point of it all. Men and women fought and died over two centuries ago to separate themselves from England, to create a new nation in a new land, under a revolutionary form of government for those times, a democratic republic. When the fighting came to an end in 1783, there were many people around the world who did not believe the fledgling United States of America would last even ten years. Others were more optimistic. They felt that the United States would thrive for several years, maybe a century or two, and then it would go the way of Greece or Rome. Democracy would fade back into some form of monarchy or dictatorship, or some other form of government in which, once again, the will of the people would bend to that of those in power.
But here we are, 237 years since the Revolution ended. America withstood an attempt by England to retake "the colonies" in what has been referred to as the War of 1812. Just over eighty years later, in 1860, Americans went to war against each other. It was a terrible, bloody war, but the formerly divided nation survived, was reunited, and former slaves became Americans. No, it was not perfect then, but America survived and thrived. No, it is not perfect now, but America STILL survives and STILL thrives. Will America survive as long as, say, the Roman Empire? Who can say? But today I believe that America will survive at least for another few generations. Beyond that, only the Creator knows.
I am proud to be an American, and I thank the Creator for this nation. I especially thank the Creator for the people who fought and died to create this nation, and for those who have since fought and died to keep our country strong. American is strong enough as a nation to face all difficulties and solve them. America is strong enough to endure even when our leaders seemingly ignore that great document, the Constitution. So I say...
God Bless America....
And may God continue to bless America for many years to come.
Today in America we can say (and it would be true!) that there are many things wrong in this nation. Most of us could spend several minutes (some of us probably several HOURS) listing the problems facing this country, things that are not right in this country, and things we would like to change in this country. But today, I choose to see the many things that are RIGHT with America.
First of all, our nation is a nation under the law as given by one of the greatest documents ever written by human beings. This nation was formed around the idea that all people were born with INALIENABLE rights, such that no man, no governing body, no military, nor any other human institution, could take from us. The Constitution of the United States enumerated rights which God (referred to as the Creator) gave to men, and which were never to be taken away; but the Constitution went one step further. This great document also limited the power of the government, outlined the powers of each branch of the government, and then went on reserve any other powers not accorded the government to the people themselves, or the states.
Even with all that is going on in America today, we are all still protected by the Bill of Rights, as the first ten amendments are called. Included in those (inalienable) rights are freedom of speech and religion, freedom to be secure in our home from unreasonable government search or arrest, and also the right to bear arms, which Congress shall not infringe. No other nation guarantees its citizens these rights. Some nations come close, but none meet the standards of our Bill of Rights. We should not take these rights for granted, since they were bestowed by the Creator. Not everyone in the world lives under these standards, so we should all count our blessings.
Along with the near-sacred Bill of Rights, we Americans enjoy a standard of living and a standard of convenience that many people, even in England, do not enjoy. We can assemble (PEACEFULLY) to protest or to make demands of our government. We do not routinely fear contact with police officers or members of the military. In fact, in the vast, vast majority of our interactions with law enforcement, the military, and any other local or national government contact, we are treated fairly or at least strictly in accordance with our constitutional rights. The vast majority of the time we are not subject to misconduct by police, government, or military officials. In fact, a political science professor whom I studied under several years ago proved to us with his own research that in all levels of American government (or bureaucracy, if you will) the processes work correctly over 85% of the time. Not many other nations can make this claim. Also, the vast majority of us go to sleep at night in relative peace, not fearing that someone will invade our home during the night, and more importantly, not fearing that some federal, state, or local enforcement agency will come bursting through our door while we are sleeping. Again, many nations do not enjoy this...this freedom.
Americans, and even immigrants who are not yet citizens, have almost unlimited opportunities to work in any profession or career they desire, and to reach for nearly unlimited heights in these careers, and to strive for income levels unsurpassed in other nations around the world. No one can force a person into a certain career or vocation here in America. We all have the freedom to choose what we do for a living, how much education we seek, how high we go in any organization, or even to work alone in an individual business endeavor if we so desire. Above all, Americans are free to make for themselves the life they desire, to live where they want, to travel freely between the States, to launch or change careers, in other words, to be who we want to be, and to be free.
Freedom...
That is really the point of it all. Men and women fought and died over two centuries ago to separate themselves from England, to create a new nation in a new land, under a revolutionary form of government for those times, a democratic republic. When the fighting came to an end in 1783, there were many people around the world who did not believe the fledgling United States of America would last even ten years. Others were more optimistic. They felt that the United States would thrive for several years, maybe a century or two, and then it would go the way of Greece or Rome. Democracy would fade back into some form of monarchy or dictatorship, or some other form of government in which, once again, the will of the people would bend to that of those in power.
But here we are, 237 years since the Revolution ended. America withstood an attempt by England to retake "the colonies" in what has been referred to as the War of 1812. Just over eighty years later, in 1860, Americans went to war against each other. It was a terrible, bloody war, but the formerly divided nation survived, was reunited, and former slaves became Americans. No, it was not perfect then, but America survived and thrived. No, it is not perfect now, but America STILL survives and STILL thrives. Will America survive as long as, say, the Roman Empire? Who can say? But today I believe that America will survive at least for another few generations. Beyond that, only the Creator knows.
I am proud to be an American, and I thank the Creator for this nation. I especially thank the Creator for the people who fought and died to create this nation, and for those who have since fought and died to keep our country strong. American is strong enough as a nation to face all difficulties and solve them. America is strong enough to endure even when our leaders seemingly ignore that great document, the Constitution. So I say...
God Bless America....
And may God continue to bless America for many years to come.
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