Celebrating the Fourth of July, 2026

 Celebrating the Fourth of July, 2026

Our nation is 250 years old. What contributed most to our survival as a nation, is the passionate embrace of our founding principles. At the heart of the matter, we are a nation of law, and not of men.

Early in 1776, John Adams authored his “Thoughts on Government”. Those principles were that “happiness is the end of government,” “consent the means,” and “sovereignty of the people” were the foundation. He wrote that the foundation of every government is some principle or passion in the minds of the people. "The noblest principles and most generous affections in our nature then, have the fairest chance to support the noblest and most generous models of government. . . ."

"A CONSTITUTION", wrote Adams, "founded on these principles, introduces knowledge among the People, and inspires them with a conscious dignity, becoming Freemen. A general emulation takes place, which causes good humour, sociability, good manners, and good morals to be general."

The minority often bristles, and oppose conformity to a standard that is determined someone else. They will claim that their liberty is being violated by the 'tyranny of the majority'. But if any society is to experience peace, it must have order. Our system of government, rooted in founding principles, was created to balance order, and liberty as two parts of a whole cloth.

Thomas Jefferson, shortly after his election to the presidency, wrote his famous letter to the Danbury Baptists in which he articulated this principle: " I shall see with sincere
satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend
to restore to man all his natural rights, convinced he has
no natural right in opposition to his social duties."

Liberty is essential. So is order. For these two to coexist, requires mature citizens with enough knowledge and understanding to keep the balance. That, I believe, is the fundamental purpose of education, which must incorporate study of history, philosophy, and religion.

“Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity,” wrote George Washington, “Religion and morality are indispensable supports.’ These words are perhaps George Washington’s best known statement concerning religion, and since their publication in 1796. This belief was shared by almost all of the founding fathers at that time.

We have lost that perspective, or at least, lost the passion to maintain that perspective. That is the undoing of the Republic of the United States of America. We are 'immature' as citizens, seeking our own passions and forgetting that we are parts of a whole. We want the liberty without the corresponding restrictions of order.

This year, we celebrate what we WERE, more than what we have become. We must restore the Republic, before it is too late, or there will be nothing to celebrate.

God Bless America, because we have proven beyond doubt that we are too stupid to do it on our own.
JAS, 2026