We celebrate the Fourth of July to celebrate Independence and there is a great need to celebrate and remember why we celebrate.
First, we celebrate independence from foreign control, of foreign dictation and foreign interference.
President Woodrow Wilson said,” The Passion of America is to be permitted to live her life according to her own principle. The only thing that she profoundly resents or will ever resent having her life and freedom interfered with.”
In 1776, we celebrated our independence from England and the end of British interference. In 2019, we may struggle to celebrate since Russia interferes in our elections and Obama did nothing about it in 2016 and Trump jokes about it rather than doing anything about it in 2019. Congress fails to act as well. Saudi Arabia dictates to the United States State Department what questions we can ask of them about the death of an American resident.
Second, the fourth of July should be about celebrating independence from autocratic rule. In 1776 we rid ourselves of a ‘mad” King, he did whatever he pleased and harmed our country and its citizens at almost every turn.
President Wilson noted, “ We must not fall back on the discretionary executive power. The Government of the United States was established to get rid of it (exclusive executive rule: autocratic rule).”
“Resist the concentration of power… because the concentration of power is what precedes the destruction of human initiative and therefore human freedom,” said Wilson.
Finally, we should celebrate the constitution and the free and independent press that is enshrined in the First Amendment. In 1776, many of the revolutionary leaders were involved in the free press. Yet, today the President “jokes” about getting rid of the free press with a Russian leader who routinely kills anyone that speaks out against him especially those in the press. He calls the Crowned Prince of Saudi Arabia a “good friend” after the Crown Prince ordered the murder of an American based journalist.
I will celebrate the Fourth of July with hopes that each citizen will remember it is a celebration of independence and individualism. It is the celebration of a country that should be a “Beacon of Freedom” rather than a detainer of children. A country that abhors dictators rather than the grinning sidekick to murderous regimes.
Editor’s note: Send all Letters to the Editor to newsroom@winstoncountyjournal .com or drop by any of our offices. We vehemently believe in the free speech of all persons. Letters must have name and phone number. Phone number is for verification purposes only. Joseph McCain is the publisher of The Choctaw Plaindealer, The Webster Progress Times and Winston County Journal. He maybe reached at newsroom@winston countyjournal.com or 662-803-5236 or 662-773-6241.
