Sacrifices of America's Founding Fathers

America's founding fathers are the object of derision today.  Once revered for bravery and sacrifices, it is fashionable to judge these pioneers  as a bunch of slaveowners, racists and white supremacists. This narrative ignores historical scholarship and trivializes their contributions to creating our United States.  

It is time to set the record straight.  These courageous signers of the Declaration of Independence risked their lives, their fortunes and property to stand up to the world's mightiest power Great Britain.  On July 4, 1776, fearless representatives of the 13 colonies demanded their independence from British tyranny.

Among the 56 men who signed the declaration, five were captured and imprisoned during the Revolutionary War; 27 lost property and possessions to British raids; five forfeited their entire fortunes helping fund the Continental Army; and 12 fought the British as members of state militias.

Each leader knew he signed his death warrant by inking the document. This was an act of treason in the eyes of Britain's notorious King George III.  The monarch wanted to crush the rebellion with brute force as a warning to other British colonies around the world. Don't mess with Great Britain.

Here are a few vignettes describing the suffering, selflessness and valor of our founding fathers: 

Richard Stockton, a New Jersey delegate, was targeted by British troops.  The English commandeered his estate to use as their headquarters.  When they left, troops burned his library, private papers, furniture and clothes,  He was captured and imprisoned in a facility reserved for common criminals.

A Georgian, George Walton, served in his state's militia.  During the siege of Savannah, a British Army cannonball shattered Walton's leg, leading to his capture and imprisonment.  He was released after nine months in jail in a prisoner exchange with an English navy captain.

While Walton was held captive, his wife was captured by the British and jailed on an island in the West Indies. She too was eventually freed in a prisoner exchange. 

British mercenaries plundered the 400-acre farm of New Jersey delegate John Hart. After his farm was appropriated, Hart narrowly escaped marauding troops by fleeing his home.  During his absence, his wife died and his children were shipped off to live with neighbors. 

British troops ransacked then destroyed the estate of Pennsylvanian George Clymer during the battle of Philadelphia.   His life in tatters, Clymer converted his entire fortune to continental currency, a gutsy move in light of the colonies' meager chances of defeating the British. He donated it to the war effort.

Other patriots opened their vaults to fund the Continental Army. Carter Braxton of Virginia loaned 10,000 pounds sterling to Congress, but was never repaid.  He spent much of his remaining wealth outfitting American war ships. His largesse left him bankrupt after the end of the war.

Arthur Middleton, Edward Rutledge and Thomas Heyward Jr. joined state militias and were captured by the British and sent to a treacherous prison in St. Augustine, Florida.  British troops destroyed the Long Island estate of Francis Lewis.  His wife was imprisoned and tortured. 

You could fill a book with the grief and pain dealt by the British to those who dared to sign the Declaration of Independence.  Even historians today ignore the founders agony.  Their mission is to blaspheme their reputations by reducing these tenacious leaders to simply slaveholders. 

This biased, dubious narrative lacks perspective and discounts historical scholarship. Some dismiss the facts because history was written by white men and women.  This is reverse racism and assumes scholarly research, records and handwritten personal documents are mere reflections of prejudice.

Rewriting the nation's history through today's lens also reflects personal biases. The New York Times' 1619 Project is a classic example of injecting race into every aspect of the founding of the country to conjure a certain narrative, despite the documented evidence to the contrary.  

It is patently false to claim that all the declaration signers were slaveholders.  Records compiled by historians at Britannica Encyclopedia determined that 14 founders owned slaves at one time or another, including James Madison, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.  

Seven never owned slaves, including John Adams, Samuel Adams, Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Paine.  Historians have been unable to ascertain through extensive research whether or not the remaining 25 men who affixed their names to the declaration ever owned a single slave.

Another fact often ignored is that many founding fathers opposed slavery at the time the declaration was written.  A majority of founders, with the exception of those from South Carolina and Georgia, included language in the Articles of Confederation prohibiting the importation of slaves to individual states.

After the declaration, attitudes of the founders from the northern colonies shifted. Many openly campaigned to end slavery.  Ben Franklin, who had owned slaves, freed his slaves and later became president of the Pennsylvania Abolition Society.  He signed petitions as early as 1790 to abolish slavery.

Jon Jay, one of the largest slaveholders in New York, joined Alexander Hamilton in founding the New York Manumission Society, establishing the New York African Free School in 1787.  Robert Morris, during the debate on the Constitution, advocated for its abolition, branding it a "nefarious institution."

A balanced view of history would, however, concede that when the last of the remaining founders died in the 1830's, slavery still existed in the United States.  Those who opposed the owning of human beings were unsuccessful in overcoming the interests of southern states in retaining slave labor.  

It is a sad footnote to the founders' contributions. Nevertheless the majority of the signers of the Declaration of Independence acted in the name of unity to preserve the fragile coalition of colonies. Without the support of southern states, the Revolutionary War would have been lost.

Whatever your personal view, it  does not change what happened at Independence Hall in Philadelphia in 1776,  The United States became a nation, unshackled from British rule.  The valiant men who wrote and signed this famous document deserve our eternal gratitude not scorn.   

July 4th: A Reminder Why America's Past Matters

In this, our summer of discontent, no one knows what will transpire this Fourth of July.  Celebrations may be muted and perhaps ugly incidents will erupt in some cities.  The tragedy of our times is that history is being rewritten by those with grievances, the outraged and too often the uninformed.

Many Americans have been intimidated and silenced by the violence, the anarchy, the seemingly total rejection of the values that made this country the envy of the world.  No, this is not a nation without current or past blemishes.  But name a more perfect country?  There is no such place on Earth.

Perhaps, now more than ever, all Americans could use a July 4th history lesson.

The founding fathers faced an enemy, Great Britain, on American soil.  They were determined to break free of the English yoke even at the cost of their death.  Nevertheless, many colonists branded those courageous men "radicals" for daring to declare their independence from the crown.

In this perilous environment, delegates from the 13 colonies to the first Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.  The Congress had already voted in favor of freedom from English tyranny two days earlier on July 2 as the war with Britain raged nearby. 

The document was written chiefly by Thomas Jefferson, who was part of a five-man committee appointed by the Congress.  The other committee members included John Adams, Massachusetts; Roger Sherman, Connecticut; Benjamin Franklin; Pennsylvania; and Roger Livingston, New York.

Those history-makers and other notables who defined and defended America today are under attack for their association with past wrongs, adjudicated by today's disgruntled, angry and bitter conspirators.

Insurrectionists are already tearing down statues of ancient figures they consider offensive.  Christopher Columbus, who never set foot on U.S. soil, has been a convenient target.  But these malcontents also defaced the statue of Andrew Jackson, but were thwarted from ripping it down.

The mob is resolved to remove historical statues, especially those from the Civil War era because of the slavery issue.  But dunces in Wisconsin tragically destroyed a statue of Union Colonel Hans Christian Heg, an abolitionist who died trying to end slavery during the Civil War.

Every American has been taught slavery did exist in America.  However, it certainly did not originate here, nor did any other country engage in a brutal war that ended the practice. Men such as Colonel Heg saved the nation from being wedded to the idea of slavery.

New estimates from historians have raised the Civil War death toll to 618,222 men, making it by far the bloodiest war in American history.  Truth demands we recognize many were fighting to preserve slavery.  But they failed because President Lincoln, other leaders and the military prevailed.

Even that war cannot erase 11,000 years of human slavery.  Every continent has experienced slavery of human beings.  It appears only in this country do extremists believe that acts of vandalism will change the past. History cannot be obliterated by a few desperate, unlawful, despicable acts.

As the philosopher and novelist George Satayana once said, "Those who cannot remember the past are doomed to repeat it."  By preserving history, its lessons provide direction and vision for a different future. Based on current events, present day protesters have much to learn about history. 

That's why it is so grotesque to now hear the cries from anarchists to remove statues of Abraham Lincoln, even though he led the effort to free slaves.  These aggrieved nihilists also have vowed to target George Washington,Thomas Jefferson and Ben Franklin, who were all slave owners.

Measuring historical figures of any era by today's social or ethical standards will render most icons deficient in character or morals.  While acknowledging our founders' flaws, there is no denying they are responsible for fashioning a country where individuals are free to lawfully protest.

In fact, these men and their compatriots kindled the protests against British rule.  They risked everything, including their wealth, to sculpt a nation that would recognize the dignity of every individual.  That principle remains inviolate today, even if it has been overlooked at times in the past.

In the current reigning bedlam, the country needs a Fourth of July outpouring of patriotism now more than ever.  It would remind all Americans, including those who find nothing redeemable about the country, that our liberties were gained in the American Revolution and Declaration of Independence.

Americans have the right to criticize their politicians, their nation, their country's values because leaders such as Washington, Jefferson and Franklin had the fortitude to challenge the world's greatest power that had enslaved its colony.  Their sacrifices paved the way for freedom from oppression.

Fly your flag this Fourth of July.  Wear patriotic garb.  Stick an American flag pin in your lapel. Plant a patriotic sign in your yard. Post a patriotic message on social media. Let those who bellyaching about the rot they see in America not dominate the national narrative with their views. 

Do not be afraid of offending your neighbor or someone else.  Do not be deceived by those who label patriotism as ultra right wing or jingoistic.  Do not be cowed into hiding your patriotism because the news media, politicians, activists and race baiters promote American guilt.

Raise your voice against those who are fixated on expunging our history.  Silence is compliance with the lawless.  In these times, there should be no Silent Majority.  The majority needs to be heard so Americans don't regret they remained silent, like many in Germany during Hitler's rise to power.

There is much to celebrate in America.  The most obvious aspect is that we are a country that has faced many trials of conflict in our history including wars, economic depressions, racial strife and epic pandemics.  Each time America has emerged stronger, better, more united.

As an optimist I find reason to believe the country will once again surmount today's unrest to reclaim its place as the world's symbol of freedom, liberty and unity.  I for one will not be hushed as our history is shredded by the few.  Stand up for preserving history, both the admirable and the dreadful.

Historical Malpractice: Defaming Founding Fathers

The latest brouhaha involving former NFL quarterback turned racial victim Colin Kaepernick is a manifestation of the fashionable disparagement of the nation's Founding Fathers.  This fabricated flap over the flag and Betsy Ross underscores the deliberate demonizing of America's history.

For those who haven't heard of the faux uproar, Nike pulled the release of shoes with a 13-star American flag at the request of Kaepernick, who cited the Betsy Ross design was related to a time in history when slavery existed in America.  The shoe's flag design was to mark Independence Day.

When Nike kowtowed to this has-been player, there were calls for boycotting the shoe manufacturer. The company ignored the complaints, secure in the fact that many politicians, pro athletes, social agitators and a cadre of influential African-Americans activists would fervently support their action.

This is part of a orchestrated conspiracy to make villains of George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and anyone associated with building this great nation.  If you are skeptical of such a searing indictment, here are a few excerpts from the media cabal on our Founding Fathers.

"Founding Fathers, Founding Villains," from the Boston Review magazine. The New York Times that paragon of journalistic elitism carried an article that opined "the Founding Fathers were paranoid hypocrites and ungrateful malcontents."

The Atlantic magazine contained a tome that claimed the Founding Fathers "were not smarter than the best their country can offer now, they weren't wiser or more altruistic."  Jurist, published by the University of Pittsburgh, alleged many founders "were socialists."

Now to address the grievances of Kaepernick, who must be ill informed about American history.  According to most historical sources, there is "no conclusive" evidence that Betsy Ross designed the original American flag.  The narrative is based on claims by Betsy's descendents.  It is likely a myth.

What Kaepernick and other anti-American proselytes want to do is besmirch the Founding Fathers by judging them on current standards, dwelling on their defects, instead of their achievements. Not only is this unfair, it fails to recognize the difference in social, moral and ethical norms of that era.

What the critics overlook is that our Founding Fathers risked everything to build an independent nation built on ideals that have been the bedrock for facilitating many of the changes that ended slavery, wiped out segregation, gave women the right to vote and made us a better nation.

The 56 white men (yes, there were no women or people of color) who met in Philadelphia to declare our independence from England radically changed the course of human history. The idea of freedom over tyranny and the God-given rights of people took root here and spread the world over.

The convictions of these courageous men led to their being branded traitors, faced with the prospect of forfeiting all their possession to the English if their revolution failed.  They were willing to let the English put bounties on their own heads for the sake of freedom and liberty.

Many at the meeting in Philadelphia paid a steep price for their rebellion.  Richard Stockton of New Jersey had his home overrun by the British.  He was captured and remained in prison for years.  After he was released, he returned home to find his livestock destroyed, crops ruined and library burned.

Lewis Morris of New York lost almost all his property and wealth in the war, just two months after signing the Declaration of Independence.  His frail wife was imprisoned by the British and never recovered her health.  Fellow New Yorker Philip Livingston had his homes burned to the ground.

Robert Morris of Pennsylvania supported the war effort by extending credit to the fledgling country. He lost his substantial wealth and was never repaid.  Like many, he risked everything to stand for freedom against the English oppressors. Today no one acknowledges his suffering.

Thanks to the sacrifices of our Founding Fathers the nation survived and earned the right of the Kaepernicks in America to speak out against injustice.  Instead of praising their efforts, their ignorance of history and search for imperfections have fueled a rush to judgment of these leaders.

Certainly, no historian would deny many of our Founding Fathers were flawed individuals.  They had character faults; some were slave owners; at least one was a known playboy, and each arrived at this point in history with their own biases and peccadilloes.  But their actions were patriotically unselfish.

No past president, world leader, religious figure or explorer (see Christopher Columbus) can survive unscathed from judgment by callous hindsight and the malpractice of historical scholarship when its practitioners do no acknowledge the difference in time periods.

It is time more American leaders and ordinary citizens call out those who would rewrite history to serve their own grievances, resentment, political or social purposes.  We should all be proud of our Founding Fathers' actions to carve out a nation built on principles that remain intact today.

What Patriotism Means To Me

This July 4th my fellow Americans will dust off their flags for display.  Don tee shirts featuring a patriotic slogan.  Gawk at dazzling fireworks of red-white-and-blue explosions. For too many Americans, that's where patriotism starts and ends.  It's a once a year expression. Little more.

There is nothing wrong with a day of celebrations, even if some are clueless about why July 4th matters.  On that date in 1776 the Continental Congress declared the American colonies were no longer under the oppressive thumb of Britain with the passage of the Declaration of Independence.

My sense is that if you polled average Americans on their concept of patriotism their answers might baffle you.  Some believe it is a blind loyalty to country.  Others think it is voting, saluting the flag, standing for the National Anthem or supporting the military.  All laudable exercises of freedom.

A growing minority attach all sorts of political causes to patriotism.  Robert Reich, former Secretary of Treasury, once opined that patriotism was paying "taxes in full rather than seeking tax loopholes and squirreling away money abroad."  Wonder if the founding fathers would agree?

Schools and universities today are dishing out a lot of nonsense about patriotism.  According to news reports, students are being taught tolerance of transgender individuals, refraining from hurtful speech, saving the climate and opening borders to illegal immigrants are patriotic causes.

That is not what patriotism means to me.  I revere the idealism expressed in the Declaration of Independence, particularly the opening paragraphs.  The 1,337 word document enumerates the sacred compact every person makes when they become an American either by birth or naturalization.

Our often imitated, but never surpassed, declaration includes the idea that all men (and women) are created equal.  That was a novel concept in 1776 and remains so centuries later in some countries. For those worried about equality today, visit other nations before too harshly judging America. 

Americans also are endowed NOT by their government, but by their Creator, with certain unalienable rights.  Under the Declaration of Independence, these rights cannot be taken away.  Among the rights we enjoy as Americans are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

We are free to follow our own course in life without interference from the government.  To insure there is no tampering, our hollowed document underscores that the government derives its powers only with the consent of the people, not from politicians, political parties or the courts.

Not many Americans know that our grand treatise includes the admonition that we the people have the right to alter or abolish our form of government if it becomes destructive to the fundamental truths spelled out by the framers. That may sound extreme, but that's exactly why we ditched Britain.

At its core, America stands for freedom.  That may ring quaint to those of us born in a free country, but look around the world today.  Brutal dictators, rogue governments, military juntas and tyrants still rule many nations with an iron fist.  That's why we should never, ever take freedom for granted.

As a patriot, I vehemently oppose anyone who would abridge our freedoms, whether they are leaders, legislators, court judges, police, military or unelected do-gooders. Too many Americans have died to protect and defend those freedoms for us to surrender even one of our God-given rights.

Our nation has many symbols to represent freedom.  The Liberty Bell.  Statue of Liberty.  The American Flag.  Our National Anthem.  Patriotic celebrations.  But symbols are not what makes America singular.  Our country was built on noble ideals that have withstood the test of centuries.

Those principles have defined our nation.  America has at times failed to live up to those soaring ideals.  However, our moral compass, the Declaration of Independence, has guided us to reverse course after we have strayed from the values rooted in the soul of our nation.

Every human on the planet yearns for independence, freedom and contentment. That's why so many immigrants have endured hardships to become U.S. citizens.  They often appreciate the wisdom of the American democratic experiment more than those families who have spent generations here.

Remember that on July 4th and every day.  Reacquaint yourself with our Declaration of Independence.  Discover in its words the essence of what it means to be an American.  Proudly identify as a patriot who treasures the towering idealism of America.   

Patriotism: No Longer In Vogue?

As the nation celebrates Independence Day, surveys show Americans' patriotism is slowly, perhaps irreversibly, ebbing.  Fewer people than ever are "extremely proud" to be an American, a low in a 16-year trend of declining patriotism.  There are many theories on the downdraft but no consensus.

National polling organization Gallup published research two years ago that documented the precipitous drop.  In 2003 in the aftermath of 9/11, seven in 10 Americans professed to be "extremely" proud of their country.  By 2016, that number had nosedived to 52 percent.

The dip was most noticeable among young adults.  This group, aged 18 to 29, are the least patriotic with only 34 percent claiming to be "extremely proud" to be Americans, according to Gallup.  Young people experienced the largest decline since 2003: a slide of nearly 30 percentage points.

A 2017 national survey by Pew Research produced similar findings.  Among respondents younger than 30, only 12 percent believe America "stands above all other countries." That compares to 85 percent of the general public, the research discovered.

There are also sharp divisions between respondents with self-identified political affiliations.  For example, Pew's study uncovered that one in three "liberal" Democrats said there were other nations better than the United States.  Only 13 percent of liberals rate America the best above all others.

Gallup's poll underscored the same difference between liberals and conservatives.  Conservatives were among the most likely groups to claim to be "extremely proud" to be Americans.  More than 60 percent of conservatives viewed themselves as patriotic.

If there is a silver lining, a clear majority of Americans agree on one thing.  An Associated Press/NORC poll taken last year said 77 per cent of Americans are extremely or very proud of the country's armed forces.  But support for the military is not the same as patriotism.

Definitions of patriotism vary by source and personal beliefs, so there is no one, all encompassing description.  But for purposes of this treatise, in my opinion the words below appear more in line with most Americans perception of patriotism:

"Patriotism or national pride is the ideology of love and devotion to a homeland, and a sense of alliance with other citizens who share the same values."  Nothing in this definition suggests blind loyalty, uninformed fealty or star-spangled jingoism.  There is nothing nefarious about patriotism.

Yet a few public figures and politicians are calling patriotism a dog whistle for racism, anti-immigrant rhetoric, misogamy and injustice. They blame unflinching patriotism for wars, hunger, discrimination and every imaginable offense.  No wonder many Americans question their own patriotism.

The problem is the words some voices use to define patriotism.  These detractors claim patriotism muffles legitimate faultfinding, stifles public disagreement and insist the patriotic American flag is a symbol of hypocrisy.  Those who hold such views have twisted patriotism into something perverse.

Patriots throughout the nation's history have dissented, criticized and protested about a plethora of issues from English rule to the current president. Americans have always been a raucous tribe, but its citizens cling to the notion the country will act in keeping with its highest ideals. 

Today in the name of dissent Americans have witnessed a Congresswoman advocate public harassment of members of the current administration.  In light of the threat, it's no surprise that a recent poll reports growing numbers of Americans fear an open revolt or armed resistance.   

There is nothing red-white-and blue about clamoring for mob tactics.  Our rights do not include the abuse of the public forum to incite uncivil behavior.  Patriotism should be a clarion call for all Americans to unite behind their country, no matter who occupies the Oval Office.

An Englishmen Winston Churchill had an sober description of the country we love.  "You can always count on Americans to do the right thing--after they've tried everything else."  As Mr. Churchill suggests, our nation has its flaws, but no country has pursued virtue with as much zeal.

Patriotic Americans want what is best for their country, their fellow citizens and their world.  That is not something to be ridiculed and scoffed.  Patriotism is the glue that holds a country together.  If the bond is torn asunder, America will surrender not only its past but its future.

Richard Henry Lee: America's Forgotten Founder

Mention the Declaration of Independence and the legendary names Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and Benjamin Franklin come to mind. Few can recall that Roger Sherman and Robert Livingston also served on the five-member draft committee.  Virtually no one remembers Richard Henry Lee.

Lee is responsible for setting the stage for the writing of America's Declaration of Independence from the powerful British Empire.  His role has been lost in the pages of history because so much has been written about the five colonists tasked with producing the country's seminal document.

Lee, son of a wealthy Virginia planter, was educated in Yorkshire, England. His first public service was at age 25 when he was appointed justice of the peace in Westmoreland Country, Virginia.  He won election to the Virginia House of Burgesses, the first elected legislative assembly in the colonies.

A rising statesman, Lee was chosen to represent Virginia at the two Continental Congresses, which evolved into the governing body for the 13 colonies during the American Revolution. It was Lee's work at the second Continental Congress that fanned the simmering embers of independence.

On June 7 of 1776, Lee rose before the 56 assembled delegates to introduce a resolution that would alter the course of history.  In solemn tones, Lee stood and read these words before a hushed audience in steamy Philadelphia:

"Resolved: That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved."

The raucous convention erupted into a smoldering debate.  Pockets of influential delegates opposed the maneuver, calling for reconciliation with King George III and Great Britain. The fierce verbal battle forced leaders to postpone the vote and adopt a three-week recess for a cooling off period.

However, hours before the recess the tone of the debate had tacked decidedly in favor of approval. Based on the shifting political winds, the Committee of Five was appointed to author a statement outlining the colonies case against their masters across the Atlantic Ocean.

On July 2, 1776, one day after congress reconvened, Lee's resolution for independence was adopted by 12 of the 13 colonies.  New York's delegation abstained. Almost immediately the drafting committee began its work.  Revisions continued around-the-clock until late on the morning of July 4.

That afternoon church bells pealed in the city of Philadelphia.  The Declaration of Independence had been officially adopted.  Five days later on July 9, the New York delegation signaled its approval of the newly minted document.  All 13 colonies were now in agreement on the future of America.

Some historians downplay Lee's role at the convention, citing the growing clarion call for independence in the colonies.  But it was Lee alone who braved certain ridicule to launch the delegates on their historic course to create a new nation.  He never achieved recognition he deserved.

Richard Henry Lee endured great hardship throughout his life.  He lost a wife to disease.  He had a strained relationship with his brother over the Lee estate.  He suffered attacks on his character after the Revolution, including being accused of corruption and leaking information to a British spy.

In failing health, Lee retired from public service in 1792 at the age of 60.  He passed away two years later at his estate Chantilly-on-the Potomac in Virginia. He had helped usher in America's independence. Arguably, he should rightly be celebrated as one of the country's founding fathers.

Declaration of Independence Needed Today

America's Declaration of Independence turns 240 years old on July 4. The revolutionary document, approved by the Second Continental Congress in 1776 at Philadelphia, articulates the founding principles that fueled the building of the greatest nation on Earth.

Our nation's greatness can be traced to the courageous patriots who debated, wrote and approved the document that changed the course of American history.  With the whole world watching, partisans drafted principles that created a democracy where colonists switched roles from subjects to citizens.

The document can rightly be called the birth certificate of the United States of America.  Its adoption by the 13 original colonies transformed the identity of Virginians, New Yorkers, Pennsylvanians and North Carolinians into Americans first and foremost.

They were united as one nation, no longer autonomous dominions. Colonists took their cue from the opening lines of the declaration which referred to newborn America as "one people."  That principle was not lost on future immigrants, who surrendered their old loyalties and embraced American ideals.

In retrospect, a document, even one as old as the Declaration of Independence, must be preserved against unfaithful interpretations and defended by those in power, including elected representatives, the judiciary and executive branch of government.

America's future greatness is dependent on continued diligence.  As history has proven, democracies can splinter and collapse in a blink of an eye.  Recent examples include Thailand, Egypt, Venezuela, Zimbabwe and Turkey.  When abuses erode democracy, tyranny fills the power vacuum.  

America's founders, smarting under the sting of the British yoke, made certain future generations would be forewarned about freedom's threats.  That's why the Declaration of Independence includes 27 grievances against iron-fisted King George III of England, who ruled the colonies.

The indictment cites violations of colonists' civil, political and natural rights by the crown.  It is worth recalling a few of the complaints as a history lesson on the tyrannical injustices which should make Americans today wary of the direction of the country.

"Imposing taxes on us without our consent."  Obamacare, the president's signature insurance plan, contains a raft of 20 new or higher taxes cleverly hidden in the law to avoid public detection.  It wasn't until after the bill was rubber-stamped by Democrats that Americans learned about the tax increases for small businesses and ordinary citizens. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi sheepishly confided during the debate: "But we have to pass the bill so you can find out what is in it, away from the fog of controversy."

"He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people..."  Under President Obama, the powerful Internal Revenue Service unleashed its army of enforcement agents to intimidate political organizations aligned against his party, targeting those groups with non-profit status. Despite the harassment, no IRS officials were charged with a crime.

He has suspended our "legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever." State legislatures, duly elected representatives of the people, have been overridden numerous times by the federal government and courts on issues ranging from same-sex marriage to abortion and voter ID laws.

"He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burned our towns and destroyed the lives of our people." By failing to enforce laws prohibiting illegal immigration, the president has wrecked havoc on the budgets of states, allowed foreigners to usurp American jobs, increased crime especially in cities and states bordering Mexico and fostered human trafficking violations.  An estimated 2.5 million illegal immigrants have flooded into the country since Mr. Obama became president.

"For taking away our charters, abolishing our most valuable laws, and altering fundamentally the forms of our government."  True to his threat, President Obama has used the power of his pen to issue 235 executive orders during his presidency with still six months to go before he leaves the White House.  In addition, the federal bureaucracy has spun out 184 new regulations with an estimated cost of $80 billion for businesses and consumers.

It may be time for American citizens to again convene in Philadelphia. Once more Americans need to reaffirm their independence from an intrusive government in Washington, determined to manage our lives from afar as the bully English King once tried.

(Answer: George Mason)

Declaration of Independence Needed Today

America's Declaration of Independence turns 240 years old on July 4. The revolutionary document, approved by the Second Continental Congress in 1776 at Philadelphia, articulates the founding principles that fueled the building of the greatest nation on Earth.

Our nation's greatness can be traced to the courageous patriots who debated, wrote and approved the document that changed the course of American history.  With the whole world watching, partisans drafted principles that created a democracy where colonists switched roles from subjects to citizens.

The document can rightly be called the birth certificate of the United States of America.  Its adoption by the 13 original colonies transformed the identity of Virginians, New Yorkers, Pennsylvanians and North Carolinians into Americans first and foremost.

They were united as one nation, no longer autonomous dominions. Colonists took their cue from the opening lines of the declaration which referred to newborn America as "one people."  That principle was not lost on future immigrants, who surrendered their old loyalties and embraced American ideals.

In retrospect, a document, even one as old as the Declaration of Independence, must be preserved against unfaithful interpretations and defended by those in power, including elected representatives, the judiciary and executive branch of government.

America's future greatness is dependent on continued diligence.  As history has proven, democracies can splinter and collapse in a blink of an eye.  Recent examples include Thailand, Egypt, Venezuela, Zimbabwe and Turkey.  When abuses erode democracy, tyranny fills the power vacuum.  

America's founders, smarting under the sting of the British yoke, made certain future generations would be forewarned about freedom's threats.  That's why the Declaration of Independence includes 27 grievances against iron-fisted King George III of England, who ruled the colonies.

The indictment cites violations of colonists' civil, political and natural rights by the crown.  It is worth recalling a few of the complaints as a history lesson on the tyrannical injustices which should make Americans today wary of the direction of the country.

"Imposing taxes on us without our consent."  Obamacare, the president's signature insurance plan, contains a raft of 20 new or higher taxes cleverly hidden in the law to avoid public detection.  It wasn't until after the bill was rubber-stamped by Democrats that Americans learned about the tax increases for small businesses and ordinary citizens. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi sheepishly confided during the debate: "But we have to pass the bill so you can find out what is in it, away from the fog of controversy."

"He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people..."  Under President Obama, the powerful Internal Revenue Service unleashed its army of enforcement agents to intimidate political organizations aligned against his party, targeting those groups with non-profit status. Despite the harassment, the top official with the IRS was allowed to continue in his job and no officials were charged with a crime.

He has suspended our "legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever." State legislatures, duly elected representatives of the people, have been overridden numerous times by the federal government and courts on issues ranging from same-sex marriage to abortion and voter ID laws.

"He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burned our towns and destroyed the lives of our people." By failing to enforce laws prohibiting illegal immigration, the president has wrecked havoc on the budgets of states, allowed foreigners to usurp American jobs, increased crime especially in cities and states bordering Mexico and fostered human trafficking violations.  An estimated 2.5 million illegal immigrants have flooded into the country since Mr. Obama became president.

"For taking away our charters, abolishing our most valuable laws, and altering fundamentally the forms of our government."  True to his threat, President Obama has used the power of his pen to issue 235 executive orders during his presidency with still six months to go before he leaves the White House.  In addition, the federal bureaucracy has spun out 184 new regulations with an estimated cost of $80 billion for businesses and consumers.

It may be time for American citizens to again convene in Philadelphia. Once more Americans need to reaffirm their independence from an intrusive government in Washington, determined to manage our lives from afar as the bully English King once tried.

(Answer: George Mason)