Happy Independence Day America!

Happy Independence Day America!

Two hundred and forty nine years! That is 249 years of being the world’s greatest and most successful demonstration of the powers of individualism, freedom, less intrusive government, private property and initiative. Thank you, England for providing the model to the founding fathers as to what a government should not do. Thanks to the brilliance of the founding fathers (now call The Founders) of crafting the wonderful Declaration of Independence and the even more brilliant Constitution of the United States. Faced with the schisms between the abolitionists in the north and the slaveholders in the south, the founding fathers wrote a constitution that could unite the fledgling country while still laying the foundation that would ensure one day that all would truly be equal in the eyes of the law. This marvelous document would hardly have been written by today’s politicians who lack the written skills, the verbal skills, the intellect and the morality of our founders.

But “Happy Independence Day”? Not Happy Birthday? Ever wonder why we celebrate July 4 as the “birthday” of the country? Why isn’t it January 14th? Well January 14, 1784 was when the Continental Congess officially declared the sovereignty of the country. July 4, 1776 was when the Continental Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence. So saying the July 4 is the birthday of the country is like declaring you are 8 years old on the day you were born. That is why I call July 4 as Independence Day and I call January 14 as the country’s birthday. Disagree? Well I am used to being in the minority.

I love this country. But every time I visit my parents and brother’s graves in Atlanta I am struck by the absence of American flags in the neighborhoods through which I travel. I have also noticed when I visit my daughter in northern Virginia that I do not see American flags there even though most of the residents are dependent upon the government for their livelihood. In my neighborhood in Knoxville there are American flags galore. I have one at the entrance to my driveway and another at my boat dock. Why is that? Is it because those neighborhoods are mostly democrat and today democrat translates to being less patriotic? Pardon me if I think that is total lunacy. People of all stripes should be patriotic and love this country. Where else is there the richness of expression coupled with the abundant wealth of its citizens? Precious few countries would tolerate – or even guarantee – the protests of the left. I am reminded of the migrant who was enroute to the southern border. Asked why he was taking the long arduous journey, he replied that he wanted to live in a country that had fat poor people.

Granted, there have been times when I have disagreed with those entrusted to lead the country. There have been times in which I knew that the federal government’s actions and those of the state either by individuals or collectively were wrong. I have worked in my own small way to voice my displeasure and try to change it. But never have I stopped loving this country. Those on the extremes, especially those on the left denigrate the country and seek to fundamentally change it. They want the constitution either re-written or abolished. They want to get rid of the Electoral College. They call their opponents names, boycott their products, conduct violent (yet mostly peaceful) demonstrations, shout down opposing speakers, teach divisiveness in our public schools and universities and want to affect change that will ironically hinder their freedoms of speech and expression. Are they too dumb to see that? Apparently so or else Bernie Sanders, AOC, and their like would not have a prominent voice in today’s political world. Yet I welcome that diversity and do not want it muzzled although many would like to muzzle those like me.

This is a country with Ophrah Winfrey, Samuel L. Jackson and countless blacks making millions of dollars in entertainment, sport and in commerce and yet very few have said “thank you America.” Instead, folk like Reps. Al Greene, Jasmine Crockett and Maxine Waters, people like Al Sharpton. Jesse Jackson and Ibram X. Kendi are whining about how oppressed they are and say that they want to change the system that creates their wealth. Give me a break. Many have had their success because of the grievance lobby gravy train while others like Labron James draw attention away from their million (and often billion) dollar incomes by adopting the rhetoric of the left. Poor babies. 

I have always been amused by blacks with degrees from Harvard telling other blacks that they are victims and are being oppressed by the system. Look at all the grifters who exploit white guilt to line their own pockets with little that redounds to poorer blacks. Then there is the poverty establishment that exists only if they keep black people in need. And don’t get me started about the education-industrial complex which rather teach kids grievances rather than how to read.

My Dad often said that he would never live to see black children and white children going to school together. He said that the whites would not stand for it and would start shooting blacks to stop integration. Yes Georgia could be a violent hateful place. Yet Dad and Mom were in the first wave of black teachers in Atlanta assigned to previously all-white schools. Also little did Dad realize that his youngest son would help integrate the University of Georgia.

I have often said that the uniqueness of America is that here the descendants of slaves can be the teachers of the descendants of those who owned their ancestors. This is particularly true is a place like Gray, GA where many of my cousins are school teachers and are teaching the descendants of the plantation owners. We have all come a long way from where I once would get arrested for sitting in the front of the bus and might fear for my life if I did. Those who say we have not made progress are fools and should be ignored. Those who reject America for not always living up to the words of the founding fathers would, I guess, reject Christians for not living up to the words of the Bible. But how pure are they to their ideals – however warped?

I am glad I am here. I am glad for my heritage. I am fortunate to share in the wonders of this beautiful country. I love you America. Happy Independence Day.