We've just experienced another Independence Day, the quintessential American holiday. There are many things that make it so; the warm summer days, a long weekend, parades, picnics, fireworks, children out of school, swimming, and boating; the list is endless.
Observing how we Americans celebrate the Fourth of July we would be compelled to believe it impossible to have more enjoyment, more pure fun that we do. Even if some had to work the holiday, hopefully they found time to get into the spirit of the season.
This holiday in particular reminds us of our heritage; it marks the beginning of the formation of a great nation. It also reminds us that there is a "price of admission" for living in a free country.
If in your enjoyment of this great holiday, you overlooked the reasons we celebrate Independence Day don't worry about it, there is always the fifth, sixth, etc.
And, we still have almost four weeks before the U.S. becomes insolvent and our economy dissolves, or so it would seem. There's a good chance that government spending won't be cut and the debt ceiling won't be raised and the result will have dire consequences or not, depending on whom you believe.
Maybe if we raise enough heck before early August, the folks in Washington will get off their duff and do the right thing.
On this question of government doing the right thing the words of Alexander Hamilton are helpful. In Federalist No. 1 he wrote, "it seems to have been reserved to the people of this country to decide the important question, whether societies of men are really capable or not, of establishing good government from reflection and choice, or whether they are forever destined to depend, for their political constitutions, on accident or force."
That is a question that must be answered every time we go to the polls to vote. Casting an uninformed vote would qualify as an "accident," and being coerced to vote or not would count as "force."
It seems that maintaining the right balance of power in government is a fragile proposition.
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it on to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for others to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free."
Ronald Reagan, who gave this advice, knew the truth about freedom. We might ask, are we part of the one generation that will lose freedom or are we part of the generation that will turn the tide of poor government?
Recently in northern Weber County, students in fourth through 12th grades wrote 1,055 essays about freedom in order to win scholarships. They wrote about the Liberty Bell, the Federalist Papers and their authors, Hamilton, Madison, and Jay.
Fifteen students won scholarships ranging from $2000, to $100. More amazing than the number of students who took up the challenge is the content of their essays.
If you are looking for a reason to be hopeful for the future of our country, you would find comfort in the thoughts of these students.
Their understanding of the sacrifices made by previous generations and those required today should be an inspiration to us all.
It's true, we Americans know how to have fun and, are quite good at it. We also know how to be serious and meet a challenge.
When it comes to our future don't bet against the American spirit prevailing.
Reynolds lives in Pleasant View.
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