Solemn thoughts on our independence

The words of one of the most consequential political documents of all time are repeated so often they can appear almost trite. During a time of historic polarization and contention, sophisticates pick apart the “failings” of the Founders. Today, many Americans will endure a contemptuous remark from friend or relative admonishing the celebration of “racist, land-owning, white men.” Why, they ask, should Americans celebrate hypocrites who only declared their own freedom?

But the real question is, after centuries of mankind only being ruled by kings, emperors, religious authorities, or other unelected elites, what would compel 56 men to declare 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”? And that the just powers of government come from the “consent of the governed”?

In an 1811 letter to John Adams, Dr. Benjamin Rush described what it was like to sign the Declaration:

Do you recollect your memorable speech upon the Day on which the Vote was taken? Do you recollect the pensive and awful silence which pervaded the house when we were called up, one after another, to the table of the President of Congress, to subscribe what was believed by many at that time to be our own death warrants? The Silence & the gloom of the morning were interrupted I well recollect only for a moment by Col: Harrison of Virginia who said to Mr Gerry at the table, “I shall have a great advantage over you Mr: Gerry when we are all hung for what we are now doing. From the size and weight of my body I shall die in a few minutes, but from the lightness of your body you will dance in the air an hour or two before you are dead.” This Speech procured a transient smile, but it was soon succeeded by the Solemnity with which the whole business was conducted. 

With the odds decidedly not in their favor, these, merchants, farmers, physicians, lawyers, and ministers ended with this:

With a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

They could not rely on a world-class, battle-tested military. Indeed George Washington had never led an army of significant size into battle. Nor could they call upon great wealth and power. America’s superpower status would come only much, much later.

Yet, they trusted that “self-evident” truth was worth sacrificing everything for and they put their faith and trust in God and each other.

247 years have passed since our Founders risked everything to establish this nation.

Many have lost an appreciation for how revolutionary these ideals were, and for the cost exacted to secure and defend them. Generations, spoiled by blessings of liberty secured by great men, have been poisoned with radical ideologies seeping into America – from its classrooms to its government institutions.

A growing bureaucracy, recruited among prestigious schools steeped in Anti-Americanism, increasingly expresses little more than contempt for the “consent” of those they govern. The “national security establishment” charged with defending our liberties have lost wars overseas and helped to take away freedom at home.

Solemn are the scores of quiet professionals who have seen and felt the sting of defeat as freedom has suffered abroad and at home at the hands of the elite. These citizens span the services and units of the U.S. military, intelligence agencies, and law enforcement organizations at the federal, state, and local level.

Whether whistleblowers in weaponized federal agencies, embattled active duty servicemembers exposing crimes against conscience and Constitution, or brave state lawmakers and law enforcement officers seeking to uphold laws and secure borders while others abandon their responsibility to do so –these modern patriots are putting it all on the line to preserve what the Founders gave us.

In the same 1811 letter, Rush mentioned to Adams that during the 4^th of July celebrations in Philadelphia, “scarcely a word was said of the solicitude and labors, and fears, and sorrows, and sleepless nights of the men who projected, proposed, defended and subscribed the declaration of independence.”

Today, to our Founders, we say “thank you.”

Today, to those solemn patriots facing solicitude, fear, sorrow, and sleepless nights against freedom’s enemies abroad and at home – we say “thank you.” We at the Center for Security Policy will continue our efforts to tell your stories and aid you in this noble struggle to secure freedom and our Founding principles.

With faith in each other and – most importantly – faith in God, we can persevere and preserve the principles of this great Republic.