Real Freedom is Never Free
With the penning of the Declaration of Independence on this date in 1776, and the ratification of the United States Constitution beginning in 1787, the Founding Fathers and their political and intellectual progeny set in motion one of the greatest social experiments ever undertaken by a society: a democracy of, by and for the people, as Abraham Lincoln recalled in his now famous Gettysburg Address. It has never been easy, this little love affair we have with individual vs. societal rights, and if events of the last few years are any indication, it’s not going to lighten up anytime soon. As we continue our forward roll into the 21st century where conventional definitions of all we have known and held dear seem to be rapidly falling by the wayside, we’d be wise to remember that the Founding Fathers didn’t have all the answers either. What they did have was the courage, the vision, and the tenacity of spirit to ask the right questions, and to strive for answers that would benefit the many, not just the few. United We Stand. It’s always been the best and brightest version of us. Happy 4th of July, America!
persephone's step-sisters 
Well said. Liberty is certainly easier to conceptualize than execute, but I enjoy our annual opportunity to celebrate our audacity to try.
At least then let’s hope we never stop trying! I saw an article in the Post today about how many Americans can’t name all the freedoms afforded them under the First Amendment. Interesting, right?
I think there’s a real lack of Constitutional education, and, perhaps, a lack of curiosity in the citizenry.
Agreed. My grandparents, who were immigrants, had a better grasp of their newly acquired rights. The failure of the system is that we Americans don’t know what we have.
July 4 is my favorite holiday. Parades and fireworks. Does it get any better than that? Oh, wait. Parades and fireworks and presents would be AWEsome!