Ruminations on Independence Day
A holiday message from Games and Politics
Today is what I consider to be the most important secular holiday in the American calendar. Because of this, it is truly sad for me to consider where America is in relation to July 4th, 1776. A lot of the hoopla and celebration, on today's Independence Day, rings a little hollow. Why? Well, to understand, we must first consider the events of this day two-hundred and twenty-three years ago. On that day, a group of men gathered who were fed up with their government, the British government of that time. The government which the American colonists decided to seperate from was arrogant, brutal, callous and uncaring. It's tyranny may have been mild compared to a Hitler or a Stalin, but it was real, none the less. Well, the Americans had had enough; enough of a government which did not guarantee the rights of its citizens, enough of a government which viewed Americans as less valid citizens than Englishmen, and enough of Tyranny and Corruption.The new government which the Americans formed, which would become the United States of America, was founded on principles of Liberty and Justice. Soon, a Constitution was written, which included a Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights was a radical idea, it guaranteed Americans certain rights in law. Because of the Bill of Rights, I would rather be an United States citizen than a citizen of any other nation on this earth. I'm proud of my Rights, and hostile to any arrogant person who would dilute or destroy them.
Unfortunately, the Fourth of July, though a nationalistic, patriotic holiday, has lost some of its meaning over the years. Some people seem to have forgotten why we fought the Revolutionary War, and how important the ideals that our Founding Fathers put into law are. Patriotism has become more of a matter of team loyalty, and emotional attachment without basis in reason. To me, one cannot be a patriotic American unless he or she defends his or her Rights jealously. One of the original designs for the American flag, before the Star Spangled Banner, was a coiled rattlesnake and the simple words "Don't Tread on Me." The flag wasn't adopted, but the sentiment was. It is a sentiment we cannot afford to lose! When arrogant would-be tyrants seek to destroy our Liberty, they should always hear that warning rattle!
Lately, unfortunately, it seems that would-be tyrants aren't hearing that rattle. The arrogance of people in government, even among those claiming to uphold the principle that, "That government governs best which governs least," seems boundless. Too many people aren't proud of their Rights, which is the real pride I take in being an American. So, I hope that as people watch the fireworks and enjoy their barbecues, they will remember the ideals of American Liberty that this celebration stands for.