Independence Day – A View From Australia

On this momentous day for all Americans, there will be news stories that might take the headlines, and people could be tempted to take more notice of those stories than they might on some quiet reflection. There will also be celebrations all across the Country.

However, it might just be worth taking some time for that quiet reflection.

Remember the time you are celebrating. Those men who gave you all of this. They were probably a lot more frightened than you might think. Worried about the momentous step they were taking to move THEIR Country in the direction THEY chose for it. It was THOSE men who gave you what you have today.

Look around the World. There are democracies at work. Some work well, and here in Australia, we count ourselves as one that does work, and work well.

There are Theocracies, Autocracies, Dictatorships, and Countries that say they have a democracy, a democracy they like to tout as a democracy, but in reality a democracy in name only, where just saying that the people have the vote means democracy, when in fact that vote is more of a sham than a free right of free men and women, people who cannot freely express their opinion.

You in the United States have a real democracy, one that THOSE men gave you.

Never take your eye off that.

Do not allow it to be watered down. Do not allow people with a separate agenda to water it down ….. on your behalf.

A true democracy means diversity of opinion, being allowed to express that opinion in a free and open manner, and not to stifle the other persons opinion for any reason, just because you disagree with it.

Once you lose that freedom of diversity of opinion freely expressed, you lose democracy.

This day is a truly special day for all Americans, and as a humble Australian, I give you my best wishes.

Tony