catholicsphere

The 4th of July is more than just fireworks, food and beer. It’s not just an excuse for a day off work. It’s not just “declaring independence” from the workday world.

Independence Day is the day when the founders of our country told the existing government that they wanted and needed a say in those matters that regarded their own governing. They put forth in the Declaration of Independence that “Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes… But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”

These men declared what was true and right in terms of the “Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God”, and held that government shall not usurp these things that have “been endowed by their Creator”. The power is with the People through their Representatives; the government was not to make decisions against the will of the People, but in accordance with them. These lessons both the People and the Representatives must remember and understand. It is only for the Government to determine whether any matter represents a collective will, or a short-term whim. But, let it be that we all know this, participate in it and decide accordingly what we value and believe.

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[tags]4th of July, Independence Day, Declaration of Independence, government, people, fireworks, food, beer, holiday, Creator, rights, catholicsphere[/tags]