This Fourth of July, Remember Freedom

Marvin Pirila

As another Fourth of July rolls in, one should take some time to remember the historic purpose of our country - freedom from the tyranny of British rules.  For 239 years, the United States has been the Military and Freedom Superpower, fighting for freedom in countries around the world.  The spirit of freedom carries longer and deeper roots than do the feelings of oppression, hopelessness, and dependency.

Since the horrific day of 9/11, our country changed, and with it, so did we.  At first, we were willing to forego some of our freedoms for security, surrendering them in part in favor of the Patriot Act.  However, as time passed, and our security issues were addressed, the rights of the individual were never returned.  This imbalance must be corrected.

Without the spirit of freedom intact, one is living in a self-made world of oppression ─ subjecting us to desire of terrorist's.  Everything we are is based on our inalienable rights to be free ─ freedom of expression, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, etc.  Every one of these freedoms is now under attack, not by foreign sources, but by our own government.  The enemy of the state is now the state itself.  The targeting of political foes by the IRS (during the Obama administration) highlights the assault underway on individual rights.  Sure, we may not like what someone else has to share, but their right to their opinion is protected by the constitution.  If any person can be silenced, we can all be silenced.

Our Democracy was specifically designed to ensure differences of opinion would be protected.  How many bad ideas might have been stopped right away if someone had spoken up?  

We have divisions of government to ensure that no branch holds absolute power.  When the executive branch bypasses Congress repeatedly, using a pen and a phone, single-handedly, our government is failing.

When our media plays out a narrative given to them, without conducting their own unbiased research and reporting, they have deemed themselves irrelevant.  The intent is obvious and dangerous; their agenda trumps the truth and is intended to deceive the public into thinking similarly to them.  After all, they reported the "truth”, so it must be real.  The brainwashing continues when other media outlets "follow along" with the lie, repeating it endlessly, until the average Joe thinks, "it must be true."  Just because something is broadcast, via numerous channels and networks, is isn't necessarily true - look deep at Global Warming (Climate Change) and you may come to a different conclusion.

The greatest problem of our time, and one that is bringing this country to its knees is the citizen himself.  It is the duty of every citizen, man, and woman, to search out the truth and keep it out front.  They do this by punishing those that stray from the facts, by switching channels, refusing to donate to them, and writing letters expressing their dissatisfaction.  Activism, by almost any measurement is dead and without its return soon, this country is too.

The situation is dire, but not over.  This Christian country, blessed by our Creator, has done the impossible several times.  The seeds of freedom exist in every living person, and if properly nurtured, would root and spread like fire.  If it does, this country can be great again.