Independence Day, 2013

Happy Independence Day, everyone.  Let freedom ring.

Today we celebrate the declaration of our independence from the tyranny of British overlords who, much like they did in every one of their colonies through history, wanted to use us to further their own interests.  Americans should reflect on what led the Founding Fathers to make the most courageous of declarations and then follow through with it.  We are truly blessed to live in the best country in the world.

There are those who would differ with that assessment.  Landscape, food, traditions, history -- there are several ways to measure greatness, and by no means am I suggesting that the United States has a monopoly on all the best in this world.  We have more than our share of warts, to be sure.  But in terms of what this country provides for its citizens, it is the greatest experiment in human history. Hopefully, the country will survive the present administration.

The United States' example is illustrative today because we see another country -- much older than the United States -- struggling to settle on an identity.  Egypt is in the throes of yet more upheaval, this time occasioned by the military forcing the democratically-elected government to step down. There will be those criticize the military for overthrowing the government, just as there will be those who praise the military for toppling what is seen by many as an illegitimate government who reneged on its promises.  As an outsider, I don't know what's best for Egypt.  That's up to the Egyptians.

What is clear, however, is that the Islamofascists have declared time and again that they would use our own tools against us. We see that in this country, where they use the First Amendment to spew invectives against our government and our way of life.  They'll use the Fourth Amendment to hide their arms and bombs and then protect themselves once they're caught.  They use the Fifth Amendment to protect themselves in trials.  They use the Sixth Amendment not to get a right to a speedy trial, but to ensure that they'll have a forum from which they can make political speeches. The Fifteenth Amendment they'll use to gain rights of suffrage and then vote in the Muslim Brotherhood, as they did in Egypt.  We're not up against camel-riding nomads.

That's why I'm torn about what's going on in Egypt.  Morsi was elected democratically, absent any showing of voting irregularities, of which I've heard nothing.  At the same time, once Morsi was elected, he tried to use democracy to install Sharia law, which is about as antithetical to democratic rule as any system on earth.  Democracy was hijacked to be used as a Trojan horse to usher in an ancient system that is anathema to modern ways.  The majority of people don't want to live under Sharia law, and the Muslim Brotherhood knew it had no chance of winning a popular election had it hewed closely to Sharia principles during the election.

This is for the people of Egypt to resolve.  They must decide how their country is to be going forward.  But it's instructive for all freedom-loving peoples -- especially Americans -- to see how their basic freedoms can be used against them and then lost.

We must abide by our cherished rights, but we must also protect them.  This is no easier a task than what faced our Founding Fathers two hundred and thirty-seven years ago.

(c) 2013 The Truxton Spangler Chronicles