Don's Tuesday Column

             THE WAY I SEE IT   by Don Polson  Red Bluff Daily News   7/06/2021

           Freedom, independence earned, not given

Decades ago, while traveling in Colorado in my “step van” camper, an incident occurred that now seems naïvely good and decent. Having benefitted from drivers responding to an outstretched thumb, it seemed fair to pick up folks and help them on to their destination. My own personal “70s show;” good, decent, but very naïve.

 A couple of Mexican-looking fellows seemed eager but harmless and knew English. They weren’t going far so we conversed a bit; the bigger of the two seemed demanding, even controlling, of the other one.

I uttered words that gave away my faith in human nature, as well as a sense that defined the America we’ve taken for granted: “You know, this is America and people are free to do as they wish without being bullied or told otherwise.” Those words conveyed a mild admonishment and the larger Mexican, for some reason, took it to heart that the guy in whose van he sat was not putting up with intimidation of the weaker. Considering the many scary movies with said plot, I was lucky.

There’s little originality to offer, as I write on Independence Day; however, the meaning of July 4, 1776, is truly, immortally uplifting to anyone cherishing the blessings of life in this once, now and future greatest of all nations. To the extent that the faults, shortcomings and blemishes of our nation and its past cloud that immutable truth, anyone in local public or private sectors, in ideologically inclined circles—as well as in lofty positions in state and national government—deprive themselves of confidence and pride in America’s blessings and rewards.

“Whatever the circumstances, like those patriots of old who rang church bells and lighted bonfires to celebrate the Fourth of July, we are commemorating our liberties and our heritage. When we celebrate the Fourth of July, we are observing more than our break with the British and the creation of our American nation.

“We are paying homage to one of the most remarkable documents in human history, to the venerable and universal proclamation of our Declaration of Independence—that human beings are all created equal, that by their very creation they possess certain inviolable rights, and that these truths are ‘self-evident.’ To those Founding Fathers such as Jefferson, Adams, and the rest, humanity—not just Americans—owes a debt of gratitude for these words alone.” (Excerpts from “Our Sacred Honor: Reflections on the Fourth of July” by Jeff Minick, 6/29)

Our frivolity, picnicking, barbequing, beach-going and celebratory fireworks somewhat overshadow the deadly seriousness of signing that Declaration of Independence. Those signers, wealthy white men all, could be said to have foolishly put targets on their and their families’ lives, and their worldly possessions—targets easily found by the most powerful military and maritime nation on earth.

Rarely today does proclaiming dearly-held beliefs subject one to death or imprisonment; however, the punishments and sanctions for expressing unpopular (meaning conservative) or “non-woke,” “politically incorrect” thoughts, include harassment, injury, property destruction, employment and legal persecution.

Contributors to the (until then) inoffensive concept of marriage being one-man-one-woman, California’s Prop 8, saw the vicious, hateful, unbound vengeance of the tiny-but-unhinged left, enabled by a political establishment that felt they deserved what they got. At the Republican fair booth that year, an obviously-politicized sheriff’s deputy expressed heated criticism of our advocacy for Prop 8; an armed officer of the law, in uniform, seemed intimidating. Imagine a lawman yelling at Dems over pot or transgender laws.

“Why The Epoch Times Is ‘Defending America’” by the Editorial Board, “seeks to remind Americans of the goodness of our country. Such a reminder should not be needed. From its beginnings, America has offered its citizens the most important freedom: freedom of belief. It has been a nation where the faithful can practice their religion without fear of persecution.

“By protecting fundamental rights, Americans have asserted the dignity of each individual, and have guaranteed the rights of speech, press, assembly and protest, and property, among others. And so have opened the door to individuals to seek to better themselves. With everyone free to pursue their dreams, we have been an inventive, prosperous, and generous people.

“From around the world, the best from other nations have been attracted to the United States: those who had the courage to risk everything to come breathe the air of freedom; those with talent who simply wanted the chance to prove themselves; those who wanted to give their families a secure and prosperous life.”

From “Read It [The Declaration of Independence] and Be Brave,” (accordingtohoyt.com): “…remember you’re Americans. Remember the words that make men free and make tyrants quake. It is our duty, our obligation and our very great privilege to make sure that in the next decade, in the next century, in the next millennium, on Earth or in the far-flung stars the words carry on, liberty carries on, and tyrants are powerless against them.

“Yes, the danger is great. And we must grow to meet it.”

Finally, Jeff M. Lewis reflected on “Democrats Versus America’s Founding Documents”: “We, as Americans, have been given a legacy of Freedom that has done more to liberate the world’s population and lift that population out of oppressive, generational poverty than any other nation in human history. But Freedom is no longer on the march. Instead, it is under attack, both here, within our borders, and by our enemies abroad.”

It's a “time for choosing”: the “1619 Project’s” fundamentally flawed America; or President Trump’s “1776 Commission” holding up the positive legacy of America’s founding and heroes.