What Does Independence Mean To You?

Originally posted on July 4, 2020.

As Benjamin Franklin left the Constitutional Convention, a woman supposedly asked, Mr. Franklin, what form of government have you given us?” He purportedly responded, “A republic, madam, if you can keep it.” His response referred not merely to the kind of government the Framers had created but also acknowledged that this experiment would not be easy, nor should be become complacent as the experiment evolved.
A system of government such as ours requires care and it requires engagement. Engagement can mean voting, or running for office, or pursuing other ways of holding government accountable. But, at its core, it means living into the fundamental promises articulated by the Founders— that all people are created equal, endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights— including life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
It also means understanding that the Constitution is a living and breathing document, one that allows us to expand and adapt our earlier understanding and implementation of our core rights to fully live into our promise to become a beacon of light to the world.
Let us engage in civil discourse and learn from these changing times so that, as Mr. Franklin stated, we can “keep” that unique experiment alive.
I also hope you'll enjoy this video from the Parley P. Pratt Freedom Run, of Mel West answering the question of "What does Independence Day mean to you?"

Happy Independence Day to you all.

-Janet