Some thoughts on this Independence Day...

Some random thoughts from the quotation book.

I've lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing Proofs I see of this Truth — That God governs in the Affairs of Men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his Notice, is it probable that an Empire can rise without his Aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings, that except the Lord build the House they labor in vain who build it. I firmly believe this, — and I also believe that without his concurring Aid, we shall succeed in this political Building no better than the Builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our little partial local interests; our Projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a Reproach and Bye word down to future Ages.

Benjamin Franklin,
Speech to the Constitutional Convention, 28 June 1787

Thought -- It is often said that "with God, all things are possible."  Is it also true, then, that without God, all things are impossible?  From Alexander Hamilton:

The sacred rights of mankind are not to be rummaged for among old parchments or musty records. They are written, as with a sunbeam, in the whole volume of human nature, by the hand of the divinity itself; and can never be erased or obscured by mortal power.

Alexander Hamilton,
The Farmer Refuted, 1775

This to me is critical.  No document grants me liberty or freedom; no man ordains me to be free.  The rights of man are given to us by God Himself; rights that no mortal has the authority to take away.  This fact was among the first that made America truly exceptional -- the fact that our founding documents prescribe exactly what our government can and can't do.  Our government is designed to be limited, not limitless as was typical of the kingdoms and empires of the day.  And to be truthful, I doubt that any entity would be successful in keeping these freedoms from us.

Tonight, we gather to affirm the greatness of our nation — not because of the height of our skyscrapers, or the power of our military, or the size of our economy. Our pride is based on a very simple premise, summed up in a declaration made over two hundred years ago: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." That is the true genius of America — a faith in simple dreams, an insistence on small miracles.  

Barack Obama,
speaking at the Democratic National Convention, 27 July 2004

Who'd think I'd quote Obama in a posting on Liberty? But in all seriousness, it's this faith that enables anyone to do anything in this country.  Want proof?  Look at the 43 men who have served as President.  None enabled by title or birth.  How else could you get a collection such as that!

This just occurred to me -- in most of the historical quotes about the Declaration, or the Constitution, or in talking about our liberties -- there's a reference to God's existence.  That must drive some people absolutely mad...  (Good!)

And for those who need reminding -- this is what we're celebrating...