in·de·pend·ence/ˌindəˈpendəns/
noun
the fact or state of being independent.
Brief History Of America's Independence:
Okay, fear not, there won't be a test but let's sojourn back to our awkward school days wherein we learned of our country's origins, although I may try to be a bit less bias than our history books tended to be focused. We were taught that on July 4th, 1776, the Founding Father delegates signed the declaration of Independence signifying that the thirteen states were no longer under the control of the monarch of Britain, King George III. In actuality, two days before, July 2nd, 1776, the second continental congress approved by vote the resolution of Independence, first proposed by Virginia's Richard Henry Lee, which solidified the legal separation of the thirteen colonies from Britian's rule. It is because of this that John Adams believed that all celebrations of independence should be held on the second of July and refused any invitation for celebrating on the fourth.
Okay, that said, let's focus on the significance of the wordings of the declaration of independence and constitution, always read and cherished by citizens of the USA on July 4th in subsequent years. The incongruity of the idealistic wordings of these documents and a certain degree of the lifestyles of both the founding fathers (many were said to be slaveholders, for example) and those currently in government causes some to smirk at the day and even to refuse to celebrate. Fair enough, that is their right to choose, after all, it is a 'free country' still in many regards, last time I checked.
But, then why do we celebrate other than for the mere purpose of tradition? The answer lies within the context of the wordings chosen in the two documents depicted above. Words hold weight and are chosen, in such regard, for a specific purpose. Words can uplift or tear down, unlike the child adage of sticks and stones, "words can hurt yet also they can also heal." And, thus the profundity of the verbage of these documents that, however, the lives of those who penned them still hold weight when held upon with serious mindful intention. Indeed, in the chaos and tumult of these last several years, fraught with much fear and anxiety that many seek to stifle by returning to a somewhat life of normalcy as before, yet the tragic darkness of humanity ceases to hide. For each of us, founding fathers not withstanding, are a wash with both the good and the bad, the light and the dark, every one shades of grey and nuance. Truth be told, one that seeks to do good and be beneficial to others also has the propensity to do wrong, likewise, one that brings about harm to others has also, at times, done harm. The most hardened of criminals had a mother who lived him, or at least, someone who did.
The very reality of such nuance is why the words of the Declaration of Independence and Constitution are of such an extreme value, especially in the wake of today, when what we deem as freedom, independence, and the very country in which we stand seems to have become hostage to the darkness of all hatred and bondage.
Continuing thus with the Constitution, "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
"We the people," they proclaimed, "Of the United States." Years from then, another commanding figure would declare with the words of Christ, "United We Stand, Divided We Fall" and such words would such endure that their echoes would reverberate throughout all time and nations.
Indeed words have power to uplift and to tear down, not just collectively, but individually. In light of the last couple years, wherein the celebrations of Fourth of July were shut down due to quarantine and lockdowns, I personally took the time to reflect on the nature of the day itself, allowing the historical documentation and significance to impact my mind and heart.
What is Independence? What is freedom? Why, across all variety of humanity, religion or lack thereof, do we each seek for such individually and collectively? Why, across the boundaries of history and time, do we all feel endowed with the right for freedom? And, why, in the face of what we perceive danger to such right do we rise up in anger and protest?
I'm not disagreeing with such, merely asking the innermost reason within and without why we strive for freedom for one and for all. The start of this blog began with the definition of 'independence', giving it as 'the state of being independent'. To look deeper then, Merriam-Webster says that to be independent is defined as "not subject to control by others, not requiring or relying on something else, and not looking to others for one's opinions or for guidance in conduct." (Please note: there are more definitions included but I am only using what is pertinent to the argument of this entry.)
So, abiding such with the definitions of independence above included with the depth of sincerity of our founding father's decrees, we must seek out continuously to cast off our own darknesses and ever strive forward to the power of what is light and good. This, so doing, is not something merely as a collective country but inwardly we must do our part. For true revolution without becomes truly evident when one has found the freedom within.
No darkness can prevail when brought forth into the light and when all is fully become known, then as individuals and as a collective we shall truly be able to profess our own declaration of independence, breaking the chains that bind, and standing united for all.
Oh beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife
Who more than self, their country loved
And mercy more than life
America, America may God thy gold refine
'Til all success be nobleness
And every gain divined
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