Dr. Tim's Moment Of Clarity
Each
Independence Day I reflect on what it is we celebrate - our
independence from government. July 4th was not the date that our
forefathers switched allegiance from one distant central government to
another. They did not trade in their red jerseys for blue ones. They
declared themselves to be self-sovereigns, and pledged allegiance to
each other.
No more powerful words were ever written by the hand of any man than these: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
Ours is a nation built on the foundation of natural law - the individual rights that precede government - with liberty as its first principle. The first Americans fought and died so that we would not be ruled; they created a new nation where government is limited and liberty is not.
We do not exist for the good of the state; the state exists to protect our rights and freedoms. Many (most) who serve in government have forgotten that; they believe they rule us rather than serve us. Each Independence Day is a reminder for them and for us who is the cabana boy and who owns the mansion.
Liberty is the absence of government in choice; it is not freedom from consequence of our choices, as so many mistakenly believe today. I have no right to make my problems your problems, to make my feelings your feelings, to make my beliefs your beliefs, to make my priorities your priorities. And you have no right to make yours mine. We both have a right to speak; neither of us has a right to be heard or a duty to shout the other down. I have no right to your property; and you have no claim to mine.
We are equal: kings and queens in our own self-sovereign domains, with a servant government to accomplish tasks we delegate to it through our representatives. America is not its government; America is its sovereign people living in liberty. It is your independence that I celebrate this weekend as much as my own.
That self-sovereignty is the precious gift of history that we celebrate this Independence Day weekend. We take our liberty for granted and have squandered much of the freedom that was purchased for us over the generations. But we have not yet lost our values and our character and people from all over the world are lined up to come here and hoping to become Americans. We should want it at least as much.
On July 4th we are not members of the warring factions that our politicians and parasitic agitators have formed us into to fight against each other. We are all Americans - one nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all. Put out those flags, take the family to the parades, salute the veterans, marvel at the fireworks, and say a prayer of humble gratitude that you were lucky enough to have been born into this great nation at this fantastic time.
Happy Independence Day!
No more powerful words were ever written by the hand of any man than these: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
Ours is a nation built on the foundation of natural law - the individual rights that precede government - with liberty as its first principle. The first Americans fought and died so that we would not be ruled; they created a new nation where government is limited and liberty is not.
We do not exist for the good of the state; the state exists to protect our rights and freedoms. Many (most) who serve in government have forgotten that; they believe they rule us rather than serve us. Each Independence Day is a reminder for them and for us who is the cabana boy and who owns the mansion.
Liberty is the absence of government in choice; it is not freedom from consequence of our choices, as so many mistakenly believe today. I have no right to make my problems your problems, to make my feelings your feelings, to make my beliefs your beliefs, to make my priorities your priorities. And you have no right to make yours mine. We both have a right to speak; neither of us has a right to be heard or a duty to shout the other down. I have no right to your property; and you have no claim to mine.
We are equal: kings and queens in our own self-sovereign domains, with a servant government to accomplish tasks we delegate to it through our representatives. America is not its government; America is its sovereign people living in liberty. It is your independence that I celebrate this weekend as much as my own.
That self-sovereignty is the precious gift of history that we celebrate this Independence Day weekend. We take our liberty for granted and have squandered much of the freedom that was purchased for us over the generations. But we have not yet lost our values and our character and people from all over the world are lined up to come here and hoping to become Americans. We should want it at least as much.
On July 4th we are not members of the warring factions that our politicians and parasitic agitators have formed us into to fight against each other. We are all Americans - one nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all. Put out those flags, take the family to the parades, salute the veterans, marvel at the fireworks, and say a prayer of humble gratitude that you were lucky enough to have been born into this great nation at this fantastic time.
Happy Independence Day!
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