THE TUMULTUOUS ERA OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION BROUGHT CHANGE BOTH TO THE NATION IN BIRTH AND TO MANKIND'S IDEA OF WHAT FREEDOM AND CITIZENSHIP MEAN.
THOMAS JEFFERSON'S DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE WAS BASED LARGELY ON IDEAS FROM JOHN LOCKE'S "TWO TREATISES ON GOVERNMENT" WHICH WAS PUBLISHED IN 1689.
THOSE RIGHTS IMPLY A SOCIAL CONTRACT OF CITIZENSHIP. IF THE GOVERNMENT PROVIDES THOSE RIGHTS THEN CITIZENS HAVE AN OBLIGATION BOTH TO RESPECT THOSE RIGHTS FOR OTHER CITIZENS AND DO THOSE THINGS THAT SEE THAT THOSE RIGHTS CAN ENDURE.
EARLY COLONISTS PROVIDED FOR THE PROTECTION OF THEIR HOMES AND SETTLEMENTS BY BEARING ARMS AND SERVING IN THE STATE MILITIAS. ONE HUNDRED YEARS LATER WHEN THE "SHOT HEARD ROUND THE WORLD" WAS FIRED THIS SAME MILITIA BANDED TOGETHER TO FIGHT THE BRITISH ARMY AT LEXINGTON AND CONCORD AND EVENTUALLY BEYOND.

* FRANCIS SCOTT KEY’S POEM, “THE STARS SPANGLED BANNER,” WRITTEN 1N 1814, PAINTS A VIVID PICTURE OF THE WINNING OF FREEDOM AND AT THE SAME TIME POINTS OUT THAT FREEDOM IS NEVER “FREE” AND MUST BE CONTINUOUSLY DEFENDED:

"O SAY, CAN YOU SEE, BY THE DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT, WHAT SO PROUDLY WE HAIL'D AT THE TWILIGHT'S LAST GLEAMING? WHOSE BROAD STRIPES AND BRIGHT STARS, THRO' THE PERILOUS FIGHT, O'ER THE RAMPARTS WE WATCH'D, WERE SO GALLANTLY STREAMING? AND THE ROCKETS' RED GLARE, THE BOMBS BURSTING IN AIR, GAVE PROOF THRO' THE NIGHT THAT OUR FLAG WAS STILL THERE. O SAY, DOES THAT STAR-SPANGLED BANNER YET WAVE O'ER THE LAND OF THE FREE AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE."

ON 4 JULY 1776, WE DECLARED OUR INDEPENDENCE FROM BRITAIN AND DEMOCRACY WAS BORN. EVERY DAY THOUSANDS LEAVE THEIR HOMELAND TO COME TO THE "LAND OF THE FREE AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE", SO THEY CAN BEGIN THEIR AMERICAN DREAM. THE UNITED STATES IS TRULY A DIVERSE NATION MADE UP OF DYNAMIC PEOPLE. EACH YEAR ON 4 JULY, AMERICANS CELEBRATE THE FREEDOM AND INDEPENDENCE WITH BARBECUES, PICNICS, AND FAMILY GATHERINGS. WE SHOULD NEVER FORGET THE FREEDOM IS NOT FREE. AND WE MUST ALWAYS REMEMBER THOSE WHO GAVE OF THEMSELVES SO THAT WE COULD CONTINUE TO CELETRATE THAT FREEDOM.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA AND MAY WE ALWAYS DECLARE THAT THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER YET WAVES O’ER THE LAND OF THE FREE AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE!