Houston Democrats

Understandably, the Fourth is a patriotic day, a day to celebrate the history of a proud nation. However, the real reason for the celebration is often lost among the abundant national symbols and the always fascinating firework displays.

As in 1776 our nation is battling a foreign entity with the objective of upholding personal freedoms and spreading liberty to the oppressed. Unlike then, the foreign power is not a nation, and in fact had not even threatened the United States, nor did the US observe international law when it invaded the country.

The meaning of the word freedom seems to have been altered somewhat. Today, our government seems all too sure of exactly what 'freedom' means, and what constitutes freedom. Even while our nation is fighting abroad, freedoms are diminishing at home.

The government still has not renewed the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the government wishes to expand certain provisions of the intrusive Patriot Act, and the federal government and the State of Texas wish to define what is permissible when it comes to traditionally private matters.

Freedom should provide one to enjoy all the privileges of citizenship, not to exclude certain groups. The people must have the ability to exercise their choice and free will, and no legislature should whittle away such rights by discriminatory acts. Freedom is liberty from "unjust or undue government control; the right and power to act, believe, or express oneself in a manner of one’s choosing."

Some seek to define others as unpatriotic if they do not say positive things about the United States or its international role. Some use our national flag as a wedge, a tool to gain a political advantage. While hundreds of thousands of Americans are serving abroad, as our President says to defend our borders, we must serve as a counterbalance to government when it oversteps its bounds. We must be careful when our national symbols are valued more highly than the freedoms they represent.

Freedom and our liberties are what we make of them. Freedom is not something that only one person can know for certain. It's something that comes about as a collective whole. When the rights of all are upheld and respected, then we are free.

After the parties are over, and all the fireworks have been set off, let's remember those that fought for the birth of our nation, the true freedom fighters. I wonder how the Declaration of Independence might read, if it was written today. How different might the rights laid out by the Founding Fathers sound?

Read the Declaration of Independence in the Houston Chronicle.

Here's an article in the Austin-American Statesman about "Fighting for 'we the people.'"