THIS IS MY COUNTRY!

Why Laurie? Why would you write something so openly "political" in what we regard as a "devotional" blog? What about the separation of church and state?

I'm so glad you asked ...

First, there is nothing in the Constitution of the United States of America, pertaining to the separation of church and state. Second, when Thomas Jefferson wrote of it, it was to protect the church from the state - not the state from the church. Having given that brief introduction:

John Hancock penned the cover letter accompanying the Declaration of Independence.

"Gentlemen, Altho it is not possible to foresee the consequences of human actions, yet it is nevertheless a duty we owe ourselves and posterity in all our public councils to decide in the best manner we are able and to trust the event to That Being who governs both causes and events, so as to bring about his own determinations."

Impressed with this sentiment, and at the same time fully convinced that our affairs will take a more favorable turn, The Congress have judged it necessary to dissolve all connection between Great Britain and the American Colonies, and to declare them free and independent States as you will perceive by the enclosed Declaration, which I am directed to transmit to you."

Fifty-six men pledged their lives, fortunes and sacred honor to the citizens who empowered them to sign this Declaration of Independence on their behalf. The majority, indeed, paid a horrific price.

Five signers were captured by the British as traitors and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons in the Revolutionary War, another had two sons captured. Nine of the fifty-six fought and died from wounds or the hardships of the Revolutionary War. The list of hardship that awaited each signer goes on and on.

Of the signers twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners, men of means, well educated. But they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured.

As we celebrate the 234th anniversary of their Declaration; I ask, IS IT STILL OURS? Is it a document by which each of us stands as free and independent citizens, of all nationalities, of all race and color, of all religious, political and personal preference? Or is this a relic of a time gone by? We can only judge by the actions of those who sit in that body of Congress today.

Two-hundred and thirty four years later, does OUR CONGRESS, consist of representatives with the same honor and commitment?

Lawyers and jurists, merchants, farmers, business owners, people of all walks of life continue to sit in those seats of honor. However, I am fearful that as they sign their names to the affairs of state it is we the people, and our posterity, who pay a horrific price.

Party affiliation is not the question. The original congress was comprised of men of HONOR AND DISSENT. However, they strove for, and many died for, a cause greater than their individual or party bias! It was a Declaration of INDEPENDENCE not DEPENDENCE! It was a life and death fight for the freedom of Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness - NOT FOT THOSE IN POWER - BUT FOR THE CITIZENS THEY REPRESENTED!

“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. -- That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, -- That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”

I believe that there has been a, “long train of abuses” spanning several administrations and BOTH POLITICAL PARTIES. As unpopular as it may be, WE THE PEOPLE have the right, AND A SACRED RESPONSIBILITY to one another and our posterity, to secure these rights as originally intended. We do so by our vote and the time to administer change is NOW. Not because of the current administration - it is all too unfortunate that a self-indulgence of power has long been the established protocol in each administration. No, it is rather because of the insufferable burden OUR CONGRESS continues to habitually saddled upon the backs of, “we the people” who placed them in positions of what was intended to be representative authority.

THIS IS NOT THE GOVERNMENTS CONGRESS - THIS IS MY CONGRESS. I AM NOT A CITIZEN OF THE WORLD, I AM A PROUD CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA! THIS IS NOT THE GOVERNMENTS COUNTRY, THIS IS MY COUNTRY - AND I WANT IT BACK!

God Bless America!