WHAT DOES “INDEPENDENCE” MEAN? American colonists, as a people, had the same rights of self-government as other peoples of the day, and hence could declare “independence,” which included creating new governments, and assuming their “separate and equal station” among other nations and governments regardless of where they found themselves geographically. Yet, “independence” was understood to mean even more, and those beliefs supported our Constitutional Republic. The concept then and now is that “self-governing” equals “Freedom.” It was this “freedom” that created the arena where the concept of “all men are created equal” would be able to exist and flourish in a free country. Free of tyrants and dictators. For instance, in the United States of America our government was created of the People, by the People and for the People. As a lawful citizen we each possess the right to a “self-governing” life. The United States Supreme Court described the Constitution’s bill of rights as an instrument to “...keep the government off the backs of the American People.” A self-governing life is based upon the freedoms that allow us our unrestrained liberty of freedom of expression; of speech; freedom to bear arms; freedom of religion; freedom to be secure in our property and homes, all of these and much more are our rights to be “self-governing.” This is what I believe Independence Day means. Freedom from government.
