Time to Spill the Liber-Tea in the Land of The Free
Make this 4th of July more about the rights of others than your own
Every year on the Fourth of July, we are reminded of the history of America and the meaning of freedom. In light of recent Supreme Court rulings curtailing several precedents, this reflection is even more crucial today.
The Declaration of Independence was signed on this day in 1776, marking the nation’s birth. As we celebrate the 4th of July, we are reminded that there is still a long way to go and that there are many issues facing America today that require our attention.
Despite being born on the other side of the Atlantic, I value the principles guiding the United States of America.
My homeland, before its independence, was little more than a mountainous stretch of land in the Kingdom of Galicia. Our independence was recognized in 1143, and the stabilization of the borders in 1249 made it the oldest nation-state in Europe.
That piece of land on the western shores of the Old Continent later became the first global empire in history, spanning almost six centuries of existence and extending over a vast number of territories on all continents.
In comparison, America remains a young nation in its prime. It is my sincere hope that the United States will remain true to the principles that led to its independence for years to come.
Home of the free, est. 1776
The Fourth of July is the day Americans celebrate their independence from Great Britain. The Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.
On July 8, John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail that “the second day of July 1776 will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America.”
The Fourth of July is the annual celebration of America’s independence from Great Britain. That day marked a shift in how people thought about themselves and their rights as human beings.
The Founding Fathers were not only making a political statement with their Declaration. They also asserted that we are all created equal and endowed with certain unalienable rights, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This idea was radical for its time. It conveyed that everyone has the right to live freely without being oppressed by the government or others.
It is easy for us today to think of this moment in American history as something long ago and far away, but the values he proclaimed are more necessary than they have been in a long time.
Stripes, stars, and brave hearts
The Declaration of Independence was drafted by Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and other members of the Continental Congress. It formally announced that 13 British colonies were no longer under British rule.
Jefferson depicts three phases in the life of the Declaration:
- Congress reconvened on July 1, 1776. The following day, 12 of the 13 colonies voted to declare independence (New York didn’t vote).
- It immediately began deliberating on the initial Declaration authored by Jefferson. Before the committee presented the draft, Adams and Franklin made a few amendments. The debate in Congress resulted in some changes and deletions, culminating in the version the Committee of Five gave Congress.
- The review process lasted the entire day on July 3 until the drafting of the final version and its acceptance in the late morning of July 4.
The Fourth of July symbolizes freedom and equality for all Americans. It also celebrates the unity of people who have come together under one flag, from different backgrounds but with shared values, to create a better future.
However, when the 55 delegates gathered for the Constitutional Convention in 1776, there were no women, no Native Americans, no African Americans, and no representatives of minorities.
There is much work to be done on constitutional rights if we want America to have an even brighter future ahead of it, where all Americans are genuinely equal under one flag.
America is more than red, white, and blue
All Americans must remember that freedom, equality, and inclusion should not be taken for granted. They are not historical facts but current imperatives whose precedents should never be questioned but celebrated and defended daily.
- We must remember the sacrifices of those who came before us so we can live freely today.
- We must celebrate America’s progress toward an equal society for all people — but it is only half complete! Hence, it would be best if you continued fighting for justice daily.
- Ending slavery was only the first step in achieving full equality for African Americans; they continue to face discrimination today in ways both subtle and overt (and sometimes both). We must continue fighting against racism until it no longer exists at all!
America today is not only red, white, and blue, but it is black and also made up of all the colors on the rainbow.
Make your 4th of July more about your rights than fireworks
This year is a significant one for America. It marks the 226th anniversary of the Declaration of our independence — and it’s an opportunity to reflect on how much things have changed since then and how they’ve stayed the same.
This year, more than ever in American history, we are seeing a rise in xenophobia and racism as well as general hostility toward marginalized groups such as immigrants and people of color.
This is not only unacceptable but also dangerous: it threatens our very foundation as a nation founded upon principles of freedom, equality, inclusion, women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and diversity (among others).
It seems that too many people forget what this country was built on — or perhaps never knew in the first place.
Freedom and equality for all Americans
The Declaration of Independence represents the rights of all Americans and has shaped the nation’s history in many ways.
The Declaration outlines the ideals upon which America was founded: Freedom from tyranny, equality for all people, and the principles of self-government.
The second paragraph of the Declaration states that “all men are created equal” and have a right to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” This means that all people have an equal say in how they are governed and are free from slavery or discrimination based on religion, race, or gender.
Hence, the Fourth of July is a holiday that celebrates freedom and equality for all. It is important to remember this holiday because it reminds all Americans of how far America has come as a country and how far it still needs to go.
Americans must continue fighting for the rights of those who do not have them, including women and minorities.
Freedom means having one’s own beliefs without fear of punishment or persecution for those beliefs; it also means having access to health services regardless of income level or gender identity/expression.
Freedom, equality, and inclusion are all important. They are the ideas that have driven the United States and inspired people worldwide for hundreds of years.
But what does this have to do with you?
Your life is your own. You can choose what you want to do with it and who you want to be as a person. It’s up to you!
Independence Day reminds us that we should always fight for freedom, which means we should also never take it for granted — it sounds like an important lesson everyone should learn from America’s history!
Concluding remarks
This year, you should be celebrating the Fourth of July with a particular focus on why it matters now more than ever. With all that is going on in America and around the world, it is easy to feel overwhelmed by the challenges ahead.
It’s important to remember what made America great in the first place: freedom and equality for all people.
That’s why we’re here today — to remind ourselves of those values and to uphold the pennant of democracy.
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