Foundations of Freedom

As the celebration of our independence draws near I think it is important for us to remember why our founding fathers threw caution to the wind, "pledged their lives, fortunes and sacred honor," to this cause we call Liberty.

The American Revolution centered around one key principle, "throwing off the yoke of an oppressive government." The growth and prosperity of this new Republic was being threatened by a strong central government that imposed oppressive taxes and sought to control the freedoms and liberties of the people. We often forget that the threat these new colonies faced was from their own government (the primary reason we have the 2nd amendment - to protect us from our own government, not invading armies).

Today we are faced with the same threats. A strong central government that is taxing the life out of the citizenry, laying the burden of their own excesses on the backs of our children, while failing miserable with the most important mandate given to federal powers - protecting the citizens they serve. Terrorists and illegals flood across our borders, almost every month we hear of a new attempt by terrorists on our own soil and many of our leaders talk about the "rights" of our enemies.

Most of the signers of the Declaration of Independence did sacrifice their lives, their fortunes, but never their sacred honor. They fought and died for freedom. The spent their fortunes in defense of liberty. They honored their commitments to the greater good and the chorus of freedom and liberty spread across the globe.

As the sun was rising over Lexington, Massachusetts on April 19, 1775 the first shots of the revolution were fired. "The shots heard round the world." Our founding fathers were willing to fight and die for freedom from an oppressive government, they made personal sacrifices for the cause of liberty, they were committted to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

As our national day of independence rapidly approachs, the question is what will we sacrifice to fend off an oppressive government? What actions will we take to insure that the financial burdens of our nation are not thrust on the backs of our children? Who will join me in pledging their lives, fortunes and sacred honor in defense of freedom, liberty and the pursuit of happiness?