Independence Day is upon us…
Independence Day is almost upon us. This is one of my favorite holidays of the year for a lot of reasons, and as a result the shop will be closed from Saturday July 2nd – July 4th and will reopen on the 5th. This year the significance of Independence Day seems to be more in the forefront of my mind as we are caught up in a watershed moment in history.
It is an ironic moment considering the star of the world stage in this event is England. 240 years ago we declared our independence from England at the end of a bloody war. Less than a week ago the English people democratically declared their independence from the European Union. The underlying sentiment in the UK with the common people is that their country is being over run and it’s losing its identity. The majority of the people voted for economic uncertainty and a massive change in direction rather than continue down the path that they were on with a unified Europe and all of the good and bad that comes with it. They opted out of the “one world” concept that has been in the works since before I was born and has been jammed down our throats since I was a kid.
It’s this renewed sense of nationalism which was displayed with the BREXIT vote that I want to focus on because it’s something that is being stripped away from our society and its been happening where any logical long term psychological campaign would start…with our young. Don’t misunderstand me. I believe that diversity makes our country strong as long as all of the people of every race color and creed understand that there is a debt due for the freedoms we have and that debt is respect for the country we call home. Our way of life is built on a set of thoughts that were made into an institution some 240 years ago with the Declaration of Independence. I love my country and I’m proud to call it home no matter how upside down it seems at times. There is no better way to get my message across coming into this Independence Day weekend than with an excerpt from the beginning of the document we are celebrating on Monday. The forefathers of this nation were some smart folks. Happy Independence Day to all!
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, 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.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.–Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.”
This photo was taken outside of Knights Armament in Titusville at the beginning of one of the most interesting experiences in my life. Thanks Matt for the invite. As always, thank you for reading the Blog at gunshinearms.com
