This Wednesday is the first Independence Day that I will have spent in the Navy, and its had me thinking a little bit. Since I can remember I've been facinated with the Founding Fathers, (I know that many people are calling them the Founders because its more PC or something but i think that is stupid. I've never been very PC, this could potentially harm me when I decide to run for office).
when one thinks about the ramifications of what the Fathers were taking part in it is really heroic. These men were putting their lives on the line for the belief in self government, for the belief that they should be allowed to pick their leaders and make their own laws. This was something that was extordinary, considering this meant almost certain death for them. Those who were on the battle fields certaintly understood that they were putting their lives on the line and that they had to succeed because getting caught by the British meant that they would be tried as traitors and put to death. So if they did not die on the battle field they knew that they could not be caputred. Those were were the leaders of the Revolution understood that the Revolution had to succeed, otherwise they would be killed.
Imagine if the war was not a success and the British kept the Colonies under their rule, George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, and the scores of other leaders of the Revolution would not be seen as heros rather as traitors. They would be celebrated they would be reviled and most certainly would have been killed.
The gravity of the situtation their belief in self government, the fact that they should have a say in their government is something that I believe has been lost. We are forgetting the Spirit of 76, most of us don't even call July 4th Independence Day, it is simply the 4th of July. BBQ's are held, beer is drank and fireworks are lit, and I think that most of us seem to forget what the day is about. The day is about the people having a say in their government, about the ideals that the Founding Fathers fought for, put their lives and reputations on the line for.
Our independence is no longer a matter of whether we have the ability to protect our selfs from forgien governments trying to come and take over. We have the military and ecomonic ability to protect our selfs from that. Our independence is safe-guarded now by those who participate. Unfortunatly only about 1/2 of those who are of age to vote choose to participate. The number of people who vote compared to those who are registered shows much better numbers around 70%, but the fact remains about 1/2 of those who have the right to vote choose not too.
Decisions are made by those who participate, I know that I'm preaching to the choir to most of those who are going to read this, but if you feel that your government is tackeling the issues and you don't believe that the government is truely representative of who you are. Ask you self why that is. If its because you don't participate in the process then you have no right to complain. To keep our independence safe and to make sure that to government is representative of the population then the people need to participate. Safe-guard our independence, VOTE!