While it may be July 4th around the globe, it is not a day of independence for many. It is important to reflect upon the meaning of this holiday, and to remember that we are living in the midst of a grand experiment. Each four year period is a clinical trial that tests our abilities as a free people.
In the course of human history, freedom and self determination under the rule of law is a rather new concept. History is littered with theocracies, monarchies, tyrants, and other caste systems. And so is the present.
As a Nation, we struggle with our own rights. Our constitution asserts that each of us have common rights that are provided by an authority higher than ourselves. The government is charged with the obligation to protect these rights from enemies abroad and from within.
Over time, the notion of rights has been twisted to include various personal beliefs. This has turned us into a litigious society. The political side effect of twisting the meaning of rights is that when privileges, benefits, or entitlements become rights, pulling back on them when the structure is unstable becomes a tough sell. We saw an example of this in Being Newt Gingrich when Troup’s Corner asserted that Newt Gingrich’s skepticism of Paul Ryan’s offerings is based upon growing up in the era of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s generally accepted “second bill of rights.”
So let’s step back and remember that our rights are many, yet explicitly stated. We have the right to speak against our government as an individual, in assembly, or through a free press. We have the right to secure those rights by force if needed. We have the right to face our accuser in a speedy trial with a jury of our peers. We have the right to vote regardless of economic situation. We have the right to amend this list of rights as the grand experiment rolls along.
All in all, our problems are good problems to have. People across the world who have not won this geographic lottery do not enjoy these rights. In this regard, we also struggle with our rights. We should not feel guilty that our Nation has it relatively good. We should lament that others do not. But what do we do about it?
Our President has had to struggle with these concepts. I noted in last week’s edition that the policies of the current administration largely mirror that of his predecessor, despite the hope and change platform on which he ran. A reader was fair to point out that I agree with the general principle of our action in Libya. If we declare that the aforementioned rights are rights that are inherent in the human condition, then how can we allow others to live under tyrants, monarchs, and various caste systems?
It’s a difficult topic, and we have had to pick our battles. Perhaps that is part of our problem. It’s easy for us to sit in front of a television or a keyboard, and say “Go Arab Spring!” when it comes to the Yemenis, Bahrainis, or Syrians. It was probably easy to do the same in Egypt, as President Mubarak had a modicum of rationality. The answers are harder to come by when we are discussing the Husseins and Qaddafis of the world. This inconsistency leads to mistrust, which leads to fledgling nations blaming their ills on us. But let’s face facts; it is impractical to commit our men and women to every conflict.
So the crossroads is upon these countries. Will they trade tyranny at the barrel of a gun for tyranny cloaked in theocracy? Or will they embrace their rights? Let us not forget that the United States had a similar choice. There was an element of our society, used to living under the crown, that was ready to hand our nation off to an elite few. Ultimately, we and the founding fathers decided against King George Washington I. That is why July 4th has become a day to celebrate rights, and participate in…
Rites
Yours truly will be at Rock Hall beach to enjoy the day and watch the night time fireworks. There is no greater place in to partake in these activities. I also get to see the fireworks in Stevensville, Pasadena, etc. I cannot imagine a greater blend of Americana. The only thing missing is wiffleball.
Speaking of wiffleball, the Worton Cougars wrapped up their Kent County Babe Ruth season with a small get together. The parents and kids battled to a 1-1 tie.
Luckily, I knocked in a run to avoid a strikeout and having my Hall of Fame plaque removed from its shrine in Scaggsville. The key to wiffleball home run hitting is a sweet, compact swing in front the plate. Long sweeping swings make fools out of men much larger than I.
We also crowned a Worton Cougars home run king. After several tiring rounds of tiebreakers, the third and winning home run sailed over the left field fence.
Special thanks to WCTR for providing the grand prize.
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