It's been suggested that our blogs should focus on the upcoming Independence Day. Sounds good, and it's definitely patriotic. But the truth is, our "Independence" is not something I feel very much like celebrating at this point. Because I'm beginning to question its existence.
"Independence" is a jingoistic term that we toss about because it is so critical to the founding of the nation, but we so rarely stop to think about what it means. But every day, with every new vote of Congress, we seem to be steering further and further from the very concept of independence.
Virtually everyone who is reading this has grown up in an America where the majority believe we need a "safety net"; something to ensure against our own failure. We insist that that safety net be provided by our government in the form of entitlements, bankruptcy laws, and other hedges to protect us against our own malfeasance. But that is an attitude of dependence, and not of independence, and it is slowly sucking our initiative and drive out of us.
As we look over the backyard fences of our neighbours, we further demand that the job our neighbours are doing raising their children is inadequate, and that they need government intervention to help them do their job properly, even as the neighbours are looking over our fences reaching the same conclusions. We're spending so much time looking over the backyard fences of others that perhaps we ARE neglecting the raising of our own children, but even as we do so, the demands we are placing on the government to oversee our neighbours' raising of their children are robbing them, and us, of independence.
We're looking at the pollution in our streams, in our air, and in our fields, and rather than taking personal initiative to eliminate the pollution, we are demanding the government enact draconian standards to enforce the pollution of others.
As our children fail to reach the high ideals we set for them, we blame the government for failing to educate them, while failing to realize that the most important part of education happens at home, where it should. This is where values are taught, and the principles of education are reinforced and no legislation, however meaningful, can replace the importance of the home. Many of us have become completely dependent on the government for the education of our children, denying the very real role that we must play.
We demand that government further protect us from offense, and hold our hands to keep us from having to make any individual decisions that might harm us. We demand our cigarettes, our movies, our video games, our music, have warning labels to protect us from irresponsible decisions.
So, Tuesday I'll wave a flag. And I will stand up as a patriot. But I will be standing up as one hoping to fight for the RESTORATION of independence rather than celebrating its existence, something I am beginning to believe is among our most widely believed myths.