Another Fourth of July has come and gone.  Americans across the land celebrated the birth of their country with time off work, cookouts, parades, concerts, drinking and fireworks.  Personally, we had some friends over, grilled steaks and shot off a couple of hundred dollars’ worth of fireworks.  Our neighborhood sounded like a war zone.  There were others who spent much more as there were beautiful explosions occurring in almost every direction from 9:30 until 11.  And then it was over.

Unfortunately, for many people, that is the extent of their patriotism or at least of their understanding of the cost of freedom.  For them, it is enough to celebrate, once a year, that a bunch of people a long time ago made the ultimate sacrifice after they signed the Declaration of Independence.  To them, freedom is a done deal.

But they couldn’t be more wrong.  Many of our founders did not believe that the Revolution, where so many died to gain freedom, was the end of the quest for human political freedom.  They understood that the natural inclination of government was to want to grow and control.   If you doubt me, consider that the first administration, under George Washington, had only four cabinet level departments, while Obama’s administration has 15.  Is it any wonder then, that the primary author of the Declaration of Independence also said, “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.”  Or that Thomas Paine, author of the renowned “Common Sense” pamphlet that spurred so many to action during the Revolution, also wrote, “Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it." 

Jefferson especially did not trust government or the power that came to men involved with government.  He said, “In questions of power, then, let no more be heard of confidence in men, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution."  To him, our Constitution wasn’t some adaptable document meant to change with the times – it was supposed to define the confines within which government, and men with power, could operate in order to control government.  Unfortunately, Americans did not heed Andrew Jackson during his farewell speech in 1837, when he said “But you must remember, my fellow-citizens, that eternal vigilance by the people is the price of liberty, and that you must pay the price if you wish to secure the blessing.  It behooves you, therefore, to be watchful in your States as well as in the Federal Government.”  We have let our government grow, like some ravenous beast with an insatiable appetite, to the point that it would not even be recognized by our founders as anything remotely American.  It consumes too much of our economy, controls too much of our lives and is still not content.

Rather than being content to think that our duty as citizens is simply to vote, let us renew with vigor a watchful vigilance once again and turn back the tide of oppression and control that is gaining more and more momentum in our land.  Vigilance is a job we all share, not something we relegate to a few activists.  If we are all involved, are all aware of what the issues are, what the arguments are, calling our representatives, our voices will be heard and we will make a difference.  We have to be informed, and it may take work on our part.  If it seems daunting, no one said you have to be aware of all of the issues or take on the entire government by yourself.  Find an issue that you are passionate about, research it more, understand all of the perspectives in the debate and make sure your leaders hear your voice and know where you stand.   Find a group of people with similar views and work with them to make your voices heard even louder.

We can never be shy about our beliefs.  If we are too concerned about being labeled by the left as being too intolerant, or too fundamentalist, or too strident, or too moral, or too this or too that, we will have let them win the debate with the lamest of ad hominem attacks.  We have to hold those who oppose us to account and hold up their arguments to logical examination and the light of day.  Some days, they may win in the marketplace of ideas, most days, when their arguments are shown to be fallacious, we will win, at least in the hearts of the people. 

Let us prove ourselves worthy of the freedom that so many have fought and died for by not taking for granted the lives that have been spent or the blood that has been shed so that we might live free.  As Patrick Henry said, “The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave.”  So let us be.