The ongoing battle for independence

Many of us think of independence as something that was declared on July 4, 1776, and won seven years later with the Treaty of Paris. However, the definition of independence is forever changing and thus the battle is ongoing.

Independence to colonial rebels meant primarily sovereignty of rule. Most felt as though the tax dollars being sent to England were greater than the services the English provided to the colonists. They felt as though they were not treated as equals to the English living in the motherland.

The Declaration of Independence declares that “All men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights.” Self determination and the rights of all citizens to “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness,” were the main themes of the document, which sparked the American Revolutionary War.

Since that fateful July 4th day 223 years ago, much has changed in America and independence has been declared many times.

During the presidential election of 1860, Abraham Lincoln declared independence for those enslaved in America.

His declaration, that men of “all races” are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, resulted in the secession of many states and the subsequent American Civil War.

This new war for independence was won five years later when the 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution declared “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States…”

Before her death in 1906, Susan B. Anthony and the National American Woman Suffrage Association repeatedly declared independence for women. Their declaration was that all men “and women” are equal, endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights. Among them was the right to vote, which would not be granted to women until the 19th Amendment was ratified in 1920.

The battles for independence continue in America. Among the new battles is one being fought by gays and lesbians.

They are declaring that all citizens – men, women, gays and lesbians – are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights. Among them is the right to marry or enter into civil unions.

Teens are battling for their independence, declaring that a person old enough to be drafted into the army should be able to buy a drink at the local pub, and Christians are battling for their independence, declaring that historic symbols of their faith should be treated equally to other historic symbols on display at government houses.

This Saturday we celebrate the spark of independence that was ignited on July 4, 1776. It is a spark that continues to flame, and one that we should fuel. Declaring independence is part of who we are as a nation and what makes America the greatest country in the world.

The battle for independence didn’t end after the Revolutionary War … it began.