A Personal Commentary on the Post-Modern World
Published Each Sunday @ Dr. Gary D. Lemmons, July 4, 2011
Independence Day 2011
Dr. Gary D. Lemmons, © July 4, 2011
The dawn is breaking on another Fourth of July in America. As I sit here in my mother-in-law’s guest bedroom in Tennessee, penning these words, I am awed to think that today marks the 235th anniversary of the official issuance of the Declaration of Independence, America’s birth certificate.
235 years, when compared with the life of a man, is a lengthy period, but when measured in the grand scheme of history, it is but a short span. Yet, within that period, this wonderful nation in which we live has grown, expanded, developed, travailed, healed, emerged, and shed tremendous influence for good all over the world.
Now, we are not “saints.” America has made its errors and there have been times that we have been flat in the wrong. But, throughout our history, we have contributed more of our blood and treasure for the betterment of mankind than any other country on the globe. In many, many distant lands can be found the remains of Americans who gave their lives not only for our nation, but for the liberation and freedom of other countries.
As we ponder the state of our nation on this Independence Day, we should be reminded that “eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.” There are many ways in which we should remain vigilant, thereby, preserving our freedom.
First, we should ever and always exercise the franchise. One, who doesn’t vote, commits the gravest offense toward our republic. The selection, by means of the ballot, of those who shall govern over us and make the laws by which we are compelled to live is the most important duty of a citizen. To effectively execute that duty, a citizen should steep himself or herself in knowledge about each candidate and vote for the one most closely aligned with his or her own believes and opinions.
Second, we should speak-out and make our opinions known to our elected servants by a variety of means ranging from something as mundane as “letters to the editor” to the more attention getting acts like significant campaign contributions for our favorite candidates.
Third, we should perform those other duties of citizenship like paying taxes, serving on the jury, and an array of less than delightful acts that can be of benefit to the community at-large.
Each of us should seek out and find the way in which we can be the best citizen possible in our country. Each of us should seek out our niche in which we can be enabled to do our part to preserve the great freedoms we enjoy, not only for ourselves, but for future generations.
On this Independence Day, I wish each of you health, happiness, home, family, friends, fine fortune, and Liberty!