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Celebrating Independence Day
The 4th of July is always a good time to take a moment to think about our history, about the freedoms that we sometimes take for granted, and about the sacrifices so many have made for our country.
Even during these challenging times, when we are facing economic hardships and uncertainty, an energy crisis and a broken healthcare system, we know that there is much that we as Americans have to be grateful for. Precisely because our country is facing such great challenges, it is more important than ever that we recognize the history, freedoms and sacrifices that have shaped the United States of America. It is also important that we use the principles that our freedoms are founded on as the guide to finding solutions to the challenges we face. From the economy to energy to healthcare, individual choice, opportunity and responsibility must be at the center of our efforts.
This year marks the 220th anniversary of the first Congress, and the passage of the Bill of Rights that we all hold dear. The first ten constitutional amendments that guaranteed our freedom of speech, press and religion; that protect us from unreasonable searches and seizures and that ensure trials by juries of our peers, were introduced in Congress by James Madison, the father of our Constitution. Two hundred and twenty years ago this summer, the first Congress debated and passed these vital rights that have come to form the cornerstone of American democracy.
Even after more than two centuries, the power and significance of these rights have not been diminished, but are in fact more meaningful than ever. They have been strengthened over the course of these many years by the men and women who have sacrificed to preserve them. There have been many times throughout our history that the members of our armed forces, and their families, have been called upon to serve, and they have done so with great honor.
Today, that burden is as great as perhaps it has ever been. Like the generation that served in World War II, the men and women who serve today have sacrificed enormously. Countless birthday, Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations have gone on without the fathers and mothers, husbands and wives, sons and daughters who are away. And for those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, there are no words to express the debt that this nation owes.
We simply cannot be fully grateful for the freedoms we all enjoy, without honoring and remembering those who have sacrificed so that these freedoms may endure. We must also ensure that liberty is the guiding principle as we work to address the many challenges we face.
These challenges can be divisive at times, but I believe we can find consensus by focusing on advancing individual choice and personal responsibility. As we celebrate our Independence Day this year, and as we work to reach consensus on these important issues, I hope that we can all set aside our differences just long enough to remember and honor our long history of freedom and the great sacrifices that have made it possible.
Please have a safe and happy holiday.