This Independence Day, Remember What Makes America Great
On July 4th, 1776, our Founders enshrined the sacred principles of our nation in the Declaration of Independence: That we are all created equal, that we are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights, among which are the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. As Secretary of State I created a Commission to celebrate and rededicate our efforts to uphold those rights at home and abroad. My journey, and the journeys of my parents, grandparents, and my son, Nick, have been made possible because of our nation’s commitment to these ideals. On our Independence Day, we celebrate them together as Americans – no matter our background, religion, or politics – because it is our shared commitment to upholding and teaching them to future generations that will allow America to prosper for another 250 years.
We can’t ignore, though, the challenges to these principles today. In classrooms across our country, America’s Founding is taught to the next generations with qualifiers, if at all. They are told America’s founding was racist, or that America truly began in 1619, not 1776. They are told that America remains inherently racist precisely because of its past sins. Or that the right to life doesn’t apply to every American. This false narrative is not grounded in truth; it is grounded in a desire to divide Americans rather than unite us, with the aim of preserving the political power of the few, such as those running powerful teachers’ unions, or individuals in high government positions.
We should all use Independence Day as an opportunity to reject this lie and teach our children the truth: Yes, America may have been flawed at its Founding, but this does not negate the incredible promise contained within our Declaration of Independence: That no matter where you come from, no matter what your background is, you possess inherent rights and freedoms, and that if you work hard and live honestly and justly, you can succeed. Throughout our nation’s history, Americans have fought and struggled to realize this promise, and today the United States is more free and more prosperous than any nation in history. Through a civil war, the civil rights movement, and even fighting evil far from our shores, the arc of American history has always proven to be that of a nation dedicated to fulfilling and preserving the promise of our Founding. We should take a moment this Independence Day to remind ourselves and our children of this noble and decent history.
America’s longstanding commitment to equal justice before the law, too, is under stress today. Many Americans are worried that their Department of Justice and FBI are biased against them and that all are not treated equally under the law. Crime is rising in our cities and towns, too, as individuals in positions of power have now decided that routine enforcement of the law is akin to an act of prejudice, rather than justice. A nation where crimes may be committed with impunity, simply because of the criminal’s connections to power or their claims of victimhood, is a nation far removed from the principle of equality before the law.
This is why the celebration of our Independence Day is so important. It is a day for all Americans to remember that our Declaration of Independence was signed by patriots who chose to risk all they had to secure liberty – not just for themselves, but for future generations. It is a day to remember how many farmers, bakers, blacksmiths, and more were willing to take up arms and fight – despite having less wealth to their name than most Americans enjoy today – simply to pass on a legacy of freedom to their children and grandchildren. These principles of equality and personal sacrifice were essential to our Founding, and we should teach them to our children on Independence Day.
Finally, we should remember how religious liberty defined our Founding. America’s houses of worship are under attack from their own government. Small business owners today are forced to choose between their faith and livelihood, while federal agencies are mobilized to target people of faith – something I’m proud to stand with the ACLJ in fighting against. Christians, Jews, and Muslims are being pressured to abandon beliefs that have been central to their faith for millennia. Antisemitism, the oldest and most pernicious form of hate, is on the rise in America– an alarming trend that all Americans should oppose.
This Independence Day, we should remember that our Declaration of Independence was written and signed by people of faith. Their conviction that fundamental rights inhere within every person was informed by their belief in God. Alexander Hamilton wrote, “The sacred rights of mankind . . . are written, as with a sunbeam, in the whole volume of human nature, by the hand of the divinity itself.” The American way of life is deeply grounded in our Judeo-Christian heritage, and we should take a moment this Independence Day to pray and thank the Lord for how He has blessed America over its history. And in our treatment of religious freedom, we should be guided by the same spirit that moved our first President, George Washington, to address a Hebrew congregation in Rhode Island by saying, “Happily the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens.”
Happy Independence Day to you and your families, and may God Bless you as you celebrate the United States of America!
Support the work of the ACLJ as we continue to bring you expert analysis and legal action on the issues that matter most.