It's Independence Day, But are We Really Free?

It’s the time of year when America turns its thoughts towards summer, barbeque grills, and fireworks. It when we honor those who died for our freedom, and when we celebrate what God has given us in this land of the free, home of the brave. But how many free and how many brave are left? How many of us are willing to stand up for what’s right, and not back down?

America used to be a strong nation. She was known for her independent spirit, her citizen’s love of freedom, and her lack of fear. If there a single nation on earth that had energy, that had drive, that had sheer guts, it was America. Her people’s enthusiasm, spirit, and raw courage brought them through their every hardship, as well a few of their friends.

Their own first blaze of glory brought them onto the world scene. Defeating the world’s largest army, with a few ragtag men. Slogging through the mud, crossing the icy Delaware, they knew only one goal. Freedom. Independence. Not tyranny, not control, but the right to have an equal playing field.

Those old-timers were raised to be tough, enterprising, and genuine. They learned the hard way, working day and night to give their descendants the opportunity to earn the American Dream. They learned more than a few lessons on the way.

They learned that hard work was what counted. Not how much help you got from your local politician, or the money you could write off of your taxes, but how many hours you put in your farm, garden, or shop would determine your success. It was the American way.

Pushing West, the pioneers forded streams, climbed mountains, and crossed ravines. They hacked their own trails. Nobody waited for the government to approve the land. They didn’t even ask for its blessing. They made their own may, and learned by it.

They learned that ingenuity pays off. It didn’t matter if you knew friends in Washington, or had inherited more money than the King of England. Ingenuity would carry the day, and the lazy would be left behind in a hurry. It was the American way.

It wasn’t long before America was called upon to help the less fortunate. Her young men were shipped to Europe to stop the flood of tyranny, the nemesis of a free America. Not once, but twice, America halted the advance of despotism, and learned.

They learned that they were responsible for their own actions, and acted accordingly. They couldn’t take chances they weren’t able to conquer, and when they did, they suffered. But they learned, and moved on, not to be taken by surprise again.

This free, hardy spirit seems to be lacking today. From the welfare trap to subsidized farming, from government healthcare to massive bailouts, people refuse to think for themselves. They are stuck in a dangerous mindset, where they can’t help themselves. Everything must be spoon-fed to them. If they are poor, the rich must help them. There is not a single thought of working for themselves anymore. They have lost the American way. They have lost their Independence.

This year, when you see all the American flags, the parades, and the fireworks, think about who made them possible, and then think about what you want for your children. Do you want them to learn how to be leeches, sucking off the government, or do you want them to earn their own way, building their own bridges and blazing their own trails?

Make this a real Independence Day, and express your freedom. Remember how hard others worked to provide you with a level playing field, and try to do a little leveling of your own. Look at the way America is going today, and compare that with 1776. Remember the quote of Dwight D. Eisenhower: “Freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men and so it must be daily earned and refreshed - else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots, it will wither and die.”  Don’t let the flower die. Work for your true Independence, and for other’s.