Originally published July 4, 2015.
Happy Birthday, America! It’s 2015, and we are freer than we have ever been to pursue happiness as the Declaration of Independence promises we have an inalienable right to do.
As of last week, the Supreme Court guaranteed gay Americans, who once lived in the shadows, the full range of privileges and legal protections. People of all races have never been so free to live and work as they choose, in full security, with full rights and respect as citizens, and with the opportunity for advancement.
The Internet has given us full individual freedom of expression, and created new avenues for commerce, removing gateways that traditionally left the power in the hands of a few.
But as far as we have come in some ways, many basic freedoms are under threat as much as they were 200 years ago.
Freedom of speech? The government has gathered millions of private phone records of the citizenry. The government has the ability to read your emails and massive Internet companies mine your data in order to turn you into a more convenient consumer.
The Internal Revenue Service has targeted American citizens and political groups for activities found to be troublesome to the leadership’s ideology.
Freedom of religion? The faithful can face heavy fines and even jail if they decline to bake a cake, deliver flowers or photograph a wedding that is at odds with their religion.
Faith-based companies have had to fight for their right not to pay for birth control and abortion services at odds with the owners’ beliefs.
The government is involved in everything we do. All of us are required, by law, to purchase health insurance or face heavy fines as a result of simply being a living, breathing American. The first lady spends her time dictating what we can feed our children — and schools act on her words to humiliate children and harass parents.
We can’t even celebrate the Fourth of July the way our forefathers intended. John Adams wrote, “It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with ... Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of the Continent to the other from this Time forward forevermore.” Bells are probably still okay, but guns, bonfires, and “illuminations” (fireworks) will very likely get you and your party illuminated with flashing blue lights, especially in Massachusetts.
When it comes to our freedoms, the hardest work was done for us by the men who brought us this day. But we must never forget the example they set, for work still remains ahead.
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