Redeclaring Independence

Looking around, the mood is hardly celebratory, yet celebrate we should. Another July 4th fast approaches, another Independence Day, but this one marks an especially notable milestone, 250 years since the great experiment began. A respite from work will be enjoyed, families will gather, grills and fireworks will be lit, partying and sport will rule the day, all to honor a document signed a quarter-millennium ago.

Little thought will be given to the faded piece of parchment or the handwritten words on it that made every fourth day of July a national holy day. Few questions will be asked, many should be, for that would be the worthiest way to celebrate.

After all, can we not see in our time the need to dissolve certain political bands that bind one to another and pit them against their own brethren? Have we not witnessed domestic insurrections amongst us, citizens bearing arms against their country?

In our day and age, do we not suffer under a regime that refuses to assent to laws? Have we not seen this regime obstruct the administration of justice, endeavor to make judges dependent on its will alone? Has it not subjected us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution?

Does it not seek to obstruct the laws for naturalization of foreigners? Does it not actively work to prevent their migrations? Has it not sent swarms of officers to harass our people? Has it not quartered large bodies of armed troops among us? Is it not depriving many of due process and the benefits of trial by jury? Is it not transporting many beyond seas to be tried for pretended offenses?

Has this rogue regime not kept us at war without the consent of our legislature? Has it not arbitrarily established conditions for the appropriations of lands? Has it not announced its intent to enlarge the nation’s boundaries so as to introduce the same absolute rule into these colonies? Greenland and Denmark are asking.

Has trade with many parts of the world not been cut off or impeded? Have taxes not been imposed on us without our consent? Are our coasts not being ravaged, are none of our towns burning, are the seas not being plundered, are no lives being destroyed?

Has the ruling regime not abolished most valuable laws and fundamentally altered the forms of our governments? Has it not usurped legislative authority and declared itself vested with the power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever?

Right here and right now, are we not exposed to all the dangers of convulsions within? Have there not been acts of cruelty totally unworthy of a civilized nation? Are we not witnesses to deceit, treachery and calculated breach of trust on a scale not seen in our lifetimes?

In response to the oppressions of our times, a long train of abuses and usurpations, have we not petitioned for redress of grievances? Have our repeated petitions not been answered only by repeated injury? Do we not then find ourselves under the dominion of a prince whose character is marked by every act defining a tyrant, one unfit to be the ruler of a free people?

Has our experience not shown that we the people are more disposed to suffer injustices than to right ourselves by ridding our land of the forms of evil to which we’ve grown accustomed?

When pursuits done in our name are plainly designed to reduce us to objects of an absolute despotism, is it not our right, our duty, to redeclare our independence in the service of throwing off such wicked authority?

As Tucker Carlson and Joe Rogan are so fond of saying, just asking questions here.