SE Perspectives: Freedom, the great motivator

On July 5, 1776, 239 years ago, the people of the colony of Pennsylvania were abuzz with the prospect of freedom from Great Britain and the creation of a new country in the new world. Word was spreading of the life-changing decisions made in past weeks by representatives of the 13 colonies at Independence Hall in Philadelphia.

The slow process of travel and word-of-mouth communication required weeks before the word could spread to every town and village from Massachusetts to Georgia. It would be months before King George in England would hear about the document that was called The Declaration of Independence. No one could predict how he would react, but few who understood the realities of what was happening believed that independence would come peacefully.

War was coming -- war with the strongest nation in the world and war with a nation that had conquered territories all around the globe, the country about which it was said, "The sun never sets on the British Empire."

Who could possibly stand up to the British war machine? Who would fight for us? Could they win? Was it possible to win? They must win.

We can skip ahead to the good part. They did win. And, because they won, we celebrate our independence each year as citizens of the United States of America, the greatest country in the world and, by the grace of God, the greatest country in history.

What makes us the greatest? It isn't the beauty of our country, though it is certainly beautiful. It isn't our many natural resources, though no country has ever been so blessed. It isn't the strength of our people, though we are certainly strong. So, what is it?

The thing that makes the United States of America great is the promise of a great principle stated in the original documents of our founding. It is the assurance that the rights of the people come not from the state but from the hand of God. In America, men and women are limited only by their desires and capabilities.

Thomas Jefferson said it best in The Declaration of Independence that "all men are created equal and have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." It is that great principle that forms our foundation and is the great motivator. Even people who hate us, love the idea of America. They would love to share in the promise of that great principle. Captured in a single word, it is "freedom."

God has blessed America. May those blessings forever bear the fruit of freedom for this great country, its people and the people of the world.

Mark Hopkins is a former Chaffee, Missouri, resident. He may be reached at presnet@presnewt.com. Books by Hopkins may be found in the Chaffee Library.