July Fourth is more than fireworks and barbecues; it is a celebration of the enduring principles that forged the United States: liberty, self-governance, and the unyielding pursuit of a better life. Freedom, at its core, is the ability to chart one’s own course, to speak truth without fear, and to live according to one’s values while respecting the rights of others. It’s a sacred inheritance from the Revolution to the present day, paid for in blood and sacrifice.
On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, a document penned primarily by Thomas Jefferson that articulated the colonies’ resolve to break free from British tyranny. This was no mere political maneuver but a radical assertion of self-governance rooted in the Enlightenment principles of individual liberty and natural law. The Declaration’s preamble famously states, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” This was a revolutionary idea, grounded in the belief that rights are not granted by kings or governments but by God Himself.
The road to July 4 was paved with years of escalating tensions. The Stamp Act of 1765, the Boston Massacre of 1770, and the Intolerable Acts of 1774 inflamed colonial resentment against a distant monarchy that taxed without representation and curtailed freedoms. By 1775, the battles of Lexington and Concord had ignited armed conflict, and the Second Continental Congress convened to chart a path forward. The decision to declare independence was not unanimous at first. John Dickinson and others favored reconciliation, but by July 1776, the momentum for independence was unstoppable. On July 2, the Congress voted to sever ties with Britain, and two days later, the Declaration was formalized.
The signers of the Declaration, 56 men from diverse backgrounds, knew they were risking their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor. Men like John Adams, who foresaw the day as one of “solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty,” and Benjamin Franklin, who quipped, “We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately,” understood the gravity of their act.
Their courage was not born of secular ambition but of a deep conviction that liberty was a divine gift worth defending at all costs.
This is the original ‘No Kings Day.’
Freedom, however, is not a free pass to indulge in chaos or to tear down the very foundations that secure it. It’s not about rewriting history to suit fleeting cultural whims or silencing dissent in the name of progress. True freedom demands responsibility to ourselves, our communities, and the ideals that bind us.
This country has been a mosaic of people seeking refuge, opportunity, and a chance to build anew. Today, record numbers of immigrants, millions each year, flee oppressive regimes and dictators, risking everything to reach our shores. Why? Because America remains the land of opportunity and freedom, a place where hard work and determination can transform lives, unhindered by the shackles of tyranny. They come not for a perfect nation but for one where they can dream, strive, and thrive. This enduring pull underscores the power of our founding principles, drawing those who see in America a beacon of hope amid a world of oppression.
Contrast this with the immature antics of those who, in recent days, have taken to altering Lee Greenwood’s anthem, “Proud to Be an American,” into a cynical “I’m Ashamed to Be an American.”
The parody song has taken social media platforms by storm with lyrics stating:
“I’m ashamed to be an American
‘Cause God knows I’m not free.
And I won’t forget the men who lied,
And took my rights from me.
And I’ll stand up against your throne
And curse her to this day.
‘Cause there ain’t no doubt I used to love this land,
But f— the USA.”
This isn’t a protest; it’s petulance. It’s the act of a child stomping their feet, unable to grasp the complexity of a nation that, while imperfect, has been a beacon of opportunity and resilience for centuries.
Free speech protects this mockery, but it’s a gutless jab from those who reap the benefits of America’s unmatched liberty while scorning its legacy. The song’s cynicism ignores the Constitution’s enduring safeguards: free expression, religious liberty, and the right to bear arms.
Freedom doesn’t mean perfection; it means the ability to confront those flaws head-on, to debate, reform, and rebuild without torching the house. Changing a song’s lyrics to signal disdain isn’t activism, it’s performative. It’s choosing symbolic gestures over substantive dialogue, division over unity.
This Fourth of July, let’s recommit to the true meaning of freedom: the God-given rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, as declared in 1776. These rights, rooted in the Christian faith of our Founders, are not gifts from government but endowments from our Creator. Let’s honor the patriots, including the soldiers who fought at Bunker Hill, Valley Forge, and beyond. They are the brave souls who secured our independence with their blood. Their sacrifice, not fleeting idealism, built this nation.
Let’s carry the torch of liberty forward; unapologetically defending our values, resisting government overreach, and celebrating the day we declared no king but God Himself.
