The Personal Website of Mark W. Dawson

Containing His Articles, Observations, Thoughts, Meanderings,
and some would say Wisdom (and some would say not).

Independence Day Celebrations

07/04/19 The True Meaning of Independence Day

As we celebrate the 243^rd anniversary of Independence we should not also celebrate Independence but the meaning of Independence. As I have outlined in my Article “The Meaning of the American Revolution” the meaning of Independence is a set of ideals of independence. The ideals; Freedom from - Liberty to, Equality, and Justice, are expressed in my previous chips below. In the hoopla of our celebratory activities we often do not consider these ideals. Yet, these ideals are what defines us as a nation and the goals we strive for as a nation.

These ideals are incorporated into the U.S. Constitution, most especially in the Bill of Rights and other Amendments, to establish a government dedicated to these ideals. Yet, these ideals cannot be preserved by the government alone but must be sustained by a people dedicated to these ideals. To this end we should remember the following quotes:

“The price of liberty is eternal vigilance.” -- author Thomas Charlton in a biography of Major General James Jackson (1809)

"But you must remember, my fellow-citizens, that eternal vigilance by the people is the price of liberty, and that you must pay the price if you wish to secure the blessing. It behooves you, therefore, to be watchful in your States as well as in the Federal Government." -- Andrew Jackson, Farewell Address, March 4, 1837

"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." -- Benjamin Franklin, Historical Review of Pennsylvania (1759)

The 20^th century in America saw many changes in society that challenged these ideals. The shift from a States to a Federal focus on government challenged these ideals. The rise of more Federal intervention into the daily lives of Americans also strained these ideals. As we progressed from an agrarian to an industrial to a technological society these ideals often needed to be redefined to meet the needs of society. And in the 21^st century, we see a full-scale assault on these ideals. As I have outlined in my Article “A New Declaration of Independence” these assaults are numerous and pervasive in modern American society.

As we celebrate this 4^th of July we all should consider these ideals and issues in modern American society. We must rededicate ourselves to these ideals so that as President Abraham Lincoln stated in his Gettysburg address:

“that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom - and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

07/03/20 U.S. Holidays

The national U.S. holidays that we celebrate are a mishmash of days that have also lost much of their meaning. I would propose a refashioning of these holidays that would commemorate the ideals of America. Before you begin your commemorations and celebrations you should always remember and learn from our history of the meanings of these days. My list of new United States National Holidays is as follows:

New Year’s Day - January 1st
Civil Rights Day - Third Monday of January
Presidents Day - Second Monday of February
Constitution Day - March 4th
Memorial Day - Last Monday of May
Independence Day - July 4th
Labor Day - First Monday of September
Voting Day - The day of a General Election
Veterans Day - Second Monday of November
Thanksgiving Day - Fourth Thursday of November
Abolition Day - December 6th
Christmas Day - December 25th

For more on these proposed holidays, and their importance to Americans, I would direct you to my Article “U.S. Holidays”.

07/03/21 The Ideas and Ideals of The Declaration of Independence and The United States Constitution

I have often written in my articles and Chirps about our American ideals and ideas. But what are these American ideals and ideas? The answer is that The Declaration of Independence expresses our American ideals, while the Constitution of the United States is the idea of how to implement our ideals. I have touched upon these American ideals and ideas in many of my Chirps and a few Articles as I have Chirped on, “07/02/21 American Ideals and Ideas”. However, these articles and Chirps do not do justice to our American ideals and ideas.

Our American Ideals and Ideas of “Life, Liberty, Property, and The Pursuit of Happiness “ and “Freedoms, Liberties, Equalities, and Equal Justice for All” are enshrined in our two founding documents: The Declaration of Independence and The Constitution of the United States. Yet, very few Americans have read these documents, and fewer still understand their meaning. The following three books are the best guides to our American Ideals and Ideas:

The Political Theory of the American Founding: Natural Rights, Public Policy, and the Moral Conditions of Freedom by Thomas G. West
The Conscience of the Constitution: The Declaration of Independence and the Right to Liberty by Timothy Sandefur
The Original Constitution: What It Actually Said and Meant 3rd Edition by Robert G. Natelson

These books examine the understanding of our Founding Fathers on Natural Law and Natural Rights and how they based their understanding in the crafting of The Declaration of Independence and The Constitution of the United States. After reading these books, you will know and understand these documents and their importance in both yesteryear and today’s society. My newest Book It Article, “07/01/21 The Library of Liberty - Part I”, is an overview of these books.

07/04/22 Independence Day is More Than a Celebration

Independence Day is more than Barbeques, Picnics, Parades, celebrations, and fireworks. It is even more than a proclamation of sovereignty from England. It is the values that are incorporated into The Declaration of Independence. The Declaration of Independence is divided into five parts: the preamble, the statement of philosophy, the grievances, the operative words, and the statement of the signers. The Declaration’s values surface in every part of the document. An article by Rob Natelson, “The Values in the Declaration of Independence”, does a better job of explaining the values of each part than I could hope to achieve. I would encourage all to read this article and reflect upon our founding values.

Consequently, when we celebrate Independence Day, we are celebrating the values of The Declaration of Independence. Values that should not be forgotten but reaffirmed every July 4th. In our tumultuous times of bitter partisanship, these are values that can bind us together, as these values are timeless. Let us not forget these values but seek to reestablish these values in all that we do as Americans, for these are the values of Liberty and Freedom for all.

07/04/24 Celebrate the Meaning of July 4th

As I have written in my previous July 4th Chirps on Independence Day Celebrations, our celebrations of July 4th must be more than a celebration of independence from England but also a celebration of our American Ideals and Ideas. Without celebrating these American ideals and ideas, we are only celebrating a historical event, not the meaning of this historical event. This is especially true for today's celebration, as we have entered into a period of Lawfare and The Weaponization of Government, and a possible American Banana Republic, as I have written in my Chirp on “06/nn/24 Welcome to Our American Banana Republic”. Accordingly, we must celebrate the principles of the Declaration of Independence to fully give meaning to our Independence Day celebrations.