American Press

Independence Day is our great national birthday party when, 243 years ago, our nation became the United States of America. It is a day when we both celebrate and reflect on the meaning of this day.

No longer did people have to be governed by the “Divine Right of Kings.” The world was given a new model of government, one in which the people govern themselves.

Self-government, consent of the governed, a representative republic — these were all theories of philosophers until put into practice when 13 American colonies declared independence from Great Britain to become the United States.

Today, everyone in Southwest Louisiana can celebrate as part of the “Red, White, Blue and You” festivities at the Lake Charles Civic Center.

Along with fun and games and cookouts, we also need to reflect on the very serious principles behind the celebration. These principles are ones that should never be neglected nor forgotten: human rights are granted by God, it is government’s duty to protect those rights and people have a moral right to abolish ties to governments  that abuse them.

Adopted by members of the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was an act of great courage for the delegates meeting in the State House in Philadelphia. They could have all been putting their necks into British nooses.

It also took a long, bloody war  to make independence a reality.

Although not one of the 13 colonies at that time, as a colony of Spain, Louisiana backed the drive for American independence and Louisiana militiamen helped Gov. Bernardo de Galvez take Baton Rouge, Mobile and Pensacola from British.

Thomas Jefferson wrote the rough draft of the Declaration and John Adams and Benjamin Franklin made a few changes.

The principles embodied in the document included equal rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It also recognized the right of self-government and the right of people to revolt when a government became abusive of those Gold-given rights.

Fortunately, we can change government peacefully and throw the rascals out at the ballot box every election day.

While celebrating today, let’s not overlook what the Declaration of Independence means to each of us — liberty and self-government.

Enjoy — and reflect.

AMERICAN BIRTHDAY — July 4 is Independence Day, but events before and afterwards had a lot to do with the United States gaining its independence.

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