What it means to celebrate Independence Day

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Independence Day is coming and once again, America is preparing for the height of summer. Bright skies with the sun shining bright, temperatures are rising and beach weather is in full swing. The Fourth of July is all of that alongside some early morning parades, afternoon barbeques and evening fireworks. It’s a beautiful time.

But is this really what Independence Day is all about?

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Most seem to have forgotten what the holiday is all about, hence it now being widely called the Fourth of July. It’s strange that of all the days of the year, this is the one America has forgotten. Christmas isn’t the Twenty-fifth of December and Thanksgiving isn’t the Fourth Thursday of November, they’re just Christmas and Thanksgiving.

Perhaps it is because many Americans now disagree with its principles?

The reality of the holiday is it was a radical push for freedom. When the British began to oppress the colonists, they attempted to remedy the problem with the government. After a period of time, it became increasingly clear that there would be no freedom offered.

How did the colonists respond?

The colonists didn’t respond by enrolling in one of two major political parties and voting for the lesser tyrannical of two evils. They didn’t concede that things are never going to change or that their oppression means they will be safe. There was no acceptance of the lack of freedom.

Instead, the founding fathers took up arms and launched a violent insurrection.

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There was nothing bright and sunny about the history. The rebellious colonists weren’t having barbeques or holding parades, they were going to war with their government after repeated attempts to be free and independent were denied. Not only was it war and insurrection, it was secession as well.

All of these concepts are now forgotten in American society.

Even after the Brexit vote in Europe, secession is considered a treasonous act by many within the United States. It’s a point magnified by the American Civil War, which saw the South fail in it’s attempt to leave the Union. The opposition to the act of secession is contrary to American principles however, as our own founders resorted to it when all else had failed. When government failed to work for the people, the founding generation seceded from it.

Secession is an American principle.

The right to bear arms is at the center of political debate in America right now. With terrorist acts on the rise, the left has blamed the existence of guns for the acts of terrorism. Disarming the citizens or complicating their right to defend themselves would not be a position endorsed by the founders. In fact, the founders felt that guns were not just necessary for self-defense, but self-defense from tyrannical government as well.

Gun ownership, like secession, is an American principle.

Americans are free to disagree with the right of Americans to own and have access to guns, and they are free to disagree with the act of secession. But both are what enabled the existence of America and without it, the revolution wouldn’t have existed. If one is to be opposed to them, they probably shouldn’t be celebrating secession and armed rebellion every fourth of July, otherwise known as Independence Day.

Chris Dixon is a liberty activist and writer from Maine. In addition to being Managing Editor for the Liberty Conservative, he also writes the Bangor Daily News blog "Undercover Porcupine" and for sports website Cleatgeeks.

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