“It does not take a majority to prevail … but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brush fires of freedom in the minds of men.” – Samuel Adams

July 4, 2009, two hundred thirty three years after our founders signed the Declaration of Independence. All day long, as I went about my affairs, I looked at the people who passed me by and wondered, do they have any idea what this day represents?

As I watered the plants in my back yard I could hear people laughing and swimming in their pools while the smell of charcoal and grilled meat filled the air. I wondered, do they understand what this day is supposed to mean?

Later this evening, as the people of this country watch their fireworks displays, I wonder, will their thoughts turn to how our government has turned the Declaration of Independence into nothing more than a historical relic?

I wonder, incessantly it seems, if people in this country understand the true meaning of independence and liberty. Our founders did. I wish I could say the same about people today.

To understand what Independence Day means, you must understand the words themselves. Independence is derived from the root word depend, or to rely upon someone or something, to be dependent. Independence, on the other hand, infers a lack of dependence upon anyone, whether it be an individual, or a group.

Although the preceding words may be words that are commonly used, the concept they imply is something that is hard to grasp for so many people. Professor of Philosophy, Hugo Adam Bedau stated, “Government should allow persons to engage in whatever conduct they want to, no matter how deviant or abnormal it may be, so long as (a) they know what they are doing, (b) they consent to it, and (c) no one — at least no one other than the participants — is harmed by it.”

That, my friends, is true liberty. That is Independence. To be free of government interference in your life, governmental controls over almost everything we do.

Now, put aside your political beliefs for a moment and just look at your lives. Tell me if you are free to do whatever you please without the government imposing some sort of restriction, some sort of fee or fine for actions they, or the majority, do not approve of.

Our independence has been under attack since we first obtained it at the end of the War For Independence. With each successive changing of the guard in Washington D.C. these attacks have become more intense, and more frequent.

And we the people sit idly by and allow this to happen. Yet we have the nerve to celebrate Independence Day as though we were still a free nation.

People such as myself, who constantly harp on the actions of our government are scorned and ridiculed by the majority who are perfectly content to hand over their liberty and their independence to a government more than willing to take them from you.

I recently read a book, and in the course of reading it came across the following passage, which aptly describes this condition. The passage comes from The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand, and it says, “Notice how they’ll accept anything except a man who stands alone. They recognize him at once. By instinct. There’s a special, insidious kind of hatred for him. They forgive criminals. They admire dictators. Crime and violence are a tie. A form of mutual dependence. They’ve got to force their miserable little personalities on every single person they meet. The independent man kills them- because they don’t exist within him and that’s the only form of existence they know. Notice the malignant kind of resentment against any idea that propounds independence. Notice the malice towards an independent man.”

I often feel that malice, that hatred, particularly when I am commenting on the actions of an elected official whom someone supports fervently. It almost seems as though they believe I am insulting them personally.

All I ask is that people examine the facts, study our nations founding documents, learn their intent, then compare our government today to what they have read. If people are of an open mind they will be forced to admit that we are not a nation of free and independent people. And you know what the opposite of freedom is? Slavery.

Two hundred and thirty three years ago our founders fought to obtain their freedom, and that of their posterity. Today was the day we were supposed to reflect upon the sacrifices they made and to celebrate our independence. So, how did you spend July 4, 2009? I don’t know about you, but I mourned.

Live your life in such a way that when your feet hit the floor in the morning, Satan shudders and says “OH SHIT!!…. HE’S AWAKE!!”

“Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?“

~ The Author ~
Neal Ross can be reached for comments at bonsai@syix.com. Visit Neal’s Blog at http://www.zombie-slayer.com/neal