“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.”

Happy Fourth of July/Independence Day, but does anyone really acknowledge that independence or just the BBQ and beers that we celebrate today? Did you know we celebrate with fireworks, bonfires, concerts, and fun because of the liberation from the monarchy’s hold on America? The Declaration of Independence was created in 1776 by the 13 colonies. The Declaration was made in order to establish independence from Great Britain, but what happens when we are conforming to our own government control and not fighting for our independence from them? The Declaration was made in order to address the citizens and a feeling of unity. What are we feeling now? Following the Declaration was documents like the Bill of Rights, giving us our two highest honors of independence—at least what our ancestors believed to be our most important rights: freedom of speech, and the right to bear arms. Even they want to be taken from us.

Sadly, those rights that are given to us for being American are being taken away by the acts of bad people who want to take it away from us, bringing us into war to take it from us, and they are manipulating our own government into doing it to make it look like it was all our own idea.

Let’s examine the difference between liberty and freedom. Liberty is defined as the right and power to believe, act, and express oneself as one chooses of being free from restriction and having the freedom of choice. It is the condition of having the power to act and speak without restraints. On the other hand, freedom is defined as such: the state of being free to enjoy political, social, and civil liberties. It is the power to decide one’s actions and the state of being free from restraints or confinement. It is synonymous with the words liberty, privilege, deliverance, and independence. What are we really defined as, liberated or free? “Power to decide one’s actions and the state of being free from restraints or confinement.” How am I supposed to live free, if I’m living with restraints and confinements from the government, though? Again, simply liberated or free?

The increased background checks on citizens does not sound like the liberation from a monarchy that we are supposed to be celebrating, citizens being placed on the No Fly List and Passenger Pre-Screening simply for using their right to free speech. We are all so worried about being politically correct that we aren’t saying what we should be. We need to start talking without fearing it and learn to have civil conversations about the things that truly matter. Maybe consider others points of view before fighting with them. Stop being closed-minded; learn and listen so we can start changing and gain back the rights we are beginning to lose.

Overall, while you are sipping on your beer and eating your hotdog on this July 4, consider how much you appreciate that right and freedom you have and how hard it would be to give up. Because the more independence we give away, the more it will be taken.