Beech Tree News Network

More Than 235 Years Later, We Are Still Fighting for Our Freedom
 “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

It’s been more than 235 years since Thomas Jefferson wrote those words as part of our Declaration of Independence, which was adopted by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776 and the reason why we celebrate Independence Day.

Our forefathers sought their independence in large part because of tyranny and the ‘taxation without representation’ the colonists faced under the rule of King George III of England.  Those first leaders of our nation stood up with one voice and stated, “Enough is enough.”  It took many years of struggle and sacrifice in a long and bloody war with England, but we finally gained the freedom we so desired as an independent nation.

Those struggles that many continue to fight and die for today include giving us the freedom of speech, the freedom to worship in the way of our choosing, freedom of the press, the freedom to bear arms, and the freedom for those of us to choose who represents us on the local, state and national levels of government.  It’s these freedoms that we hold so dear and quite frankly sometimes take for granted that today people in places like Libya, Egypt, and Syria are saying “Enough is enough” and seeking to have a say in their government.

But the struggle toward freedom is an on-going battle.  Not only do we face the threat to our way of life every day from terrorists who view our freedoms as an enemy to their own desires of oppression, but we face challenges to our freedoms here at home.  In Kentucky we’ve witnessed the encroachment of our own government when it comes to our signature industry of coal, and the desire by some to destroy the coal industry by drafting regulations that serve nothing but to take away the freedom of choice that coal offers to power our Commonwealth and our nation.

This struggle to combat the negative impact our government is having on the coal industry tears at the very fabric and foundation of our nation: one that which is free of the overreach of those in government.  This nation was founded for the people by the people.

As you gather for family outings and cookouts, keep in mind the struggle our founders lived through more than 235 years ago, and understand that the fight for true freedom is a never ending struggle.