A post by Pat
The Declaration of Independence. “We pledge our lives, our fortunes, our sacred honor.” The War for Independence led to The Constitution of The United States of America. We won and so on the Fourth of July we celebrate a breakthrough for humanity—liberty.
Not that others haven’t tried. Few freedom fighters have any fortunes to give other than their lives. They are everywhere, but rarely successful. They languish in prisons. They face firing squads. They are hunted down like animals. What freedom fighters universally share is an inner conviction that we are destined for better things and that liberty is indispensible to achieving them. A sacred honor.
Obama wasn’t the first to use the word “change” in a political slogan. It is a word that quickens a nagging ache deep in our souls that there is something very important we must do. We cannot continue as we are. There is some intention behind our creation other than survival. “Change” hints at a remedy to that aching and perhaps that’s why it is such a successful political pitch.
It isn’t change we are really after. It is actualization. We are in the process of becoming. We know there is something great within the nature of human life. There is a higher calling so faint, yet so compelling.
“The Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God”. Humans are creatures of Nature who can conceive of God. The ultimate change, the human quest, is to break the bonds of Nature and touch the hand of God. To do this we must first break the bonds of our fellow kind who would enslave us as effectively as the rigid laws of Nature enslave lesser creatures. Liberty is nearly impossible to achieve and far too easy to lose. It is incredible that something so precious would ever be given away, but that too is possible.
How many attempts did it take for delicate life to creep out of the primal pool? Nature has patience. Humankind has barely begun its journey, a risky journey that will take ages. Because our discontent will not allow us to be patient, it can make us careless. The longing for liberty will never die but it can fall back into an eon of darkness.
For millions of Americans there is something different about this Fourth of July. They’ll be at the picnics and fireworks as usual, but this year, something heavy hangs on their heart. Worry. Dread. Sadness. They know celebrating liberty isn’t all about fun any more. They are awakening to the realization it has fallen on them to play a vital role in the human saga. There is serious work to do to preserve liberty and it must be done quickly. For ourselves, for our children, for the nameless legions of liberty’s martyrs. For the ages.
(¯`·._.·(¯`·._.·(¯`·._.· WOOF·._.·´¯)·._.·´¯)·._.·´¯)
On this 4th of July it’s critical folks realize how close to losing our freedom we are now.
This last week on the 2nd Amendment (fm. Breyer): “In sum, the Framers did not write the Second Amendment in order to protect a private right of armed self-defense. There has been, and is, no consensus that the right is, or was, “fundamental.” No broader constitutional interest or principle supports legal treatment… of that right as fundamental.”
Nothing? Really? Are you ignorant or a liar sir?
Here’s what a Senate Judiciary Committee chartered panel of historians, who researched down to hand written drafts and contemporary letters and newspaper articles, clearly reported: “The conclusion is thus inescapable that the history, concept, and wording of the second amendment to the Constitution of the United States, as well as its interpretation by every major commentator and court in the first half-century after its ratification, indicates that what is protected is an individual right of a private citizen to own and carry firearms in a peaceful manner.”
http://guncite.com/journals/senrpt/senrpt.html
SR
About that quote, “In sum, the Framers did not write the Second Amendment in order to protect a private right of armed self-defense…”
I think it’s something of a trap to dwell overmuch on the why. Yes, there’s that “well regulated militia” preamble, which I take as a reference to the British attempt to seize the colonists’ arms at Lexington and Concord. In the context of the Revolution, it’s clear as day that the idea was to keep the government from controlling arms. Because a government that controls arms is either a tyranny, or one step away from becoming a tyranny. Yes, I’m absolutely entitled to defend myself, and that’s a powerful argument. But that’s not my defense of the 2nd Amendment. Because, at its most fundamental level, the 2nd Amendment isn’t what stands between me and those who would do me violence; it’s what stands between me and a tyrannical government.
Yeah, what Pat said! Go read it again!
“Proclaim Liberty throughout the land.” It’s engraved on the Liberty Bell. The phrase is from the Bible; Leviticus 25:10. Until the Lincoln cent was introduced in 1909, American coinage depicted no portrait other than Lady Liberty. (For the record, the “Indian” on the Indian cent actually isn’t an Indian, but Lady Liberty wearing an Indian headdress. That’s why the word “Liberty” appears at the base of the feathers.)
The American Revolution was an amazing event in human history. People don’t seem to appreciate just how unique our situation is, and so we take it for granted and thus put it at risk. “Beichman’s Law” (an observation of author and scholar Arnold Beichman) states: “With the single exception of the American Revolution, the aftermath of all revolutions from 1789 on only worsened the human condition.” I think about this when I look upon the monstrous and unconstitutional growth of Federal power, at the cost of states’ rights and individual liberty. Has not Washington become all the things our Declaration once accused the King of? Read the list of gripes! Isn’t it obvious we need a new revolution! And yet…well, the other revolutions, however justified they were, made a mess of things. There’s no simple answer to our dilemma. Nevertheless, we must struggle with the situation, and beat on it until we find the pathway forward. This is our heritage.
Also worth reading: Peggy Noonan’s article on Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence.
Watching clips of JFK, Ford, and Reagan on a special Meet the Press today — America, what has happened to us? Didn’t we always take it as a given that our Presidents had our best interests at heart? Let us pray that our voices will be heard, loud and clear, in November.
I’m happy to know that TwoLegs. And remember–our Freedom matters *especially* when put to the test. Be grateful our generation has an opportunity to reinforce the divine vision of the Founders 🙂
Illegitimi non carborundum. The world is bigger than any of us. We can’t save it single-handedly, but we can aspire to do the right thing to the best of our abilities. Beyond that…well, there has never been an era without troubles and strife. It’s the story of history; it’s the story of the Bible. We do what we can, and it’s not enough, but it’s all there is. Oddly enough, the greatest threat comes not from people that don’t care, but from people that believe they really can save the world, if only they’re given enough power. The Utopians. They’re the ones that will enslave us and ultimately kill us. Because they know. I wish our task were as simple as wiping out the Amalekites, and then justice and harmony would prevail. But it just doesn’t work that way; at least not for us. As troubling as it is, I think our conflicts and turmoil are a necessary part of the equation.
Tammy’s podcast is on c4p’s site from last year and it is awesome! It had more meaning today than it did last year and it was music to my ears. I’m sitting on the sand in Huntington Beach CA waiting for the celebration in the sky and thanking the Lord for all his many blessings, life is good at this moment. Thank you Tammy, and I hope you all have a great day as you should.