U. S. INDEPENDENCE 20110628

Dear China Friends,

U. S.   INDEPENDENCE

The 4th of July is celebrated in the United States as the day on which the 13 colonies declared their freedom from Great Britain in 1776.  The Declaration of Independence states 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.��

Then follows a list of grievances against Britain for not acknowledging their ��unalienable Creator Rights.��  Among them are these:  ��He has refused his assent to laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good��.He would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature��.He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing armies without the consent of our legislatures��.  He has affected to render the Military independent and superior to the Civil Power��.For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us.��

Some additional complaints were:  ��For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world.  For imposing Taxes without our Consent.  For depriving us in many cases of Trial by Jury��.For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments��  The document concludes:  ��And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.��

There are other statements from the Good Book that talk about freedom:  ��Submit yourselves for the Lord��s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.  For it is God��s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.  Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil�� (I Peter 2:13-16).

��My brothers and sisters, God called you to be free, but do not use your freedom as an excuse to do what pleases your sinful self.  Serve each other with love.  The whole law is made complete in this one command: ��Love your neighbor as you love yourself.��" (Galatians 5:13-14)

The Fourth of July is celebrated ��with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, family reunions, political speeches and ceremonies, and various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United States.  Independence Day is the national day of the United States.��  Most other nations also have their day of national celebration.

The thing I like best about Independence Day is the opportunity for   family and friends getting together to enjoy their freedom.  I trust you too can enjoy freedom on your National Day.

Your friend,

Tom Atkinson