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Letter: Fighting for Freedom, Part I
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On this July 4th, America's 238th Birthday, I encourage you to reflect upon the history of our Country; and, understand we as a citizenry are being confronted by a Federal Government that is 100 times worse than "Mother England" ever was and causing our Revolutionary War.

From the first successful colony established at Jamestown in 1607 through today, we Americans have continually fought to survive and retain our valued freedoms. In September 1774, the First Continental Congress was convened, with the purpose of organizing against England's control of our lives - through increasing oppression and taxes. The situation grew worse as England and the 13 Colonies jockeyed for control of the citizen's rights and freedoms. On April 19, 1775 the British killed eight Minute Men at Lexington/Concord; thus the first of more than 1,198,465 Americans casualties died while defending and fighting for all the freedoms we take for granted; the reality of freedom isn't free.

The Second Continental Congress convened on May 10, 1775. On July 6, 1775, our nation's leaders adopted a "Declaration of the Causes and Necessities of Taking Up Arms," (written by John Dickinson and Thomas Jefferson), claiming the colonies' cause was just and their union perfect, while expressing their resolve to die free men rather than the servants of a tyrannical government. In November 1775, George III of England rejected all the colonies' demands. In January 1776, Thomas Paine published "Common Sense," rallying all colonists to the cause of independence. On July 4, 1776, our nation's Founding Fathers adopted the Declaration of Independence and our ancestors fought for independence through November 1782. From declared independence through September 1787, our country lived under the Articles of Confederation. Congress then passed a Resolution to send our Constitution out to the States for ratification. On January 2, 1788, Georgia became the fourth State to ratify this historic document and it finally went into effect on July 2, 1788.

I would suggest to each citizen that they need to read the above stated documents; add in The Federalist Papers, a collection of 85 articles on who and why we are what we are and showing the U.S. Constitution is "written in stone" and not a living, breathing document to be changed over time. There is a reason the first ten Amendments became the "Bill of Rights," in September 1789. There is a reason why, after 238 years, there have only been 27 Amendments to this document. There is a reason why we have a "Checks and Balances" system within the three branches of our U.S. Government - the Executive, Legislative and Judicial. Yet, we free citizens grant 545 people (one President, nine Supreme Court Justices, 100 U.S. Senators 435 U.S. Representatives) the responsibility to govern our lives.

(Next week, Part II)

Tommy Clack
Vietnam veteran