Joyce Krawiec serves in the North Carolina Senate. She represents Davie County and Forsyth County, NC. Christian, wife, mother, small business owner, and conservative.
Independence Day has always been a special day in America. The day that we celebrate our freedom and our founding has always been full of events and gatherings. Last year was different. Celebrations were put on hold because of the pandemic. This year, citizens were ready to go.
It was wonderful to see our hometown go back to the traditions. Parades and fireworks as well as cook outs were welcomed. It seemed almost normal again as I participated in the parade and enjoyed the fireworks. It was wonderful to see old friends again.
The significance of Independence Day is more than having fun. I hope you are teaching your children and grandchildren the true meaning. I feel certain that most schools are not giving the entire historical perspective.
July 4th signifies the birth of our nation. The day our Declaration of Independence was signed, by 56 brave men, declaring our freedom from Great Britain. Many founders suffered great consequences as their acts were considered Treason.
They were not wild rebels. They were men who had wealth and were well educated. They were secure in their lives but they valued freedom and liberty more than anything.
Let’s look at the National Archives and what these men signed in their pledge. “We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for rectitude of our intentions, do in the name, and by the authority of the good people of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do.”
“For the support of this Declaration, with firm reliance on the protection of the divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.”
These signers put everything, including their families, in jeopardy to protect the freedoms that we enjoy today. Let’s look at what happened to them.
Five signers were captured by the British and tortured as traitors. Nine fought and died in the American Revolution. Another had two sons captured. At least a dozen of the 56 had their homes pillaged and burned.
Would we have any willing today to stand up as these men did? Who were they? Twenty five were lawyers or jurists. Eleven were merchants. Nine were farmers or large plantation owners. One was a teacher, one a musician and one a painter. They were well educated men of means, yet they signed the Declaration, knowing that the penalty could be death if they were captured.
Our system of government has definitely changed through these many years. The Supreme Court was supposed to be the weakest branch. It has morphed into making policy decisions that should be in the hands of the Legislative branch.
Congress was designed to be the strongest branch. All branches were checks and balances on each other to prevent any overstepping of boundaries. Congress was designed to be supreme. Congress can involve itself in the other branches of government. It can override Presidential vetoes. It can deny appointments to the executive and judicial branches and set legislative and judicial pay. It can impeach officers of the executive and judicial branches. Every executive agency and every executive official, except president and vice president, are creations of Congress. Congress has authority to govern the domestic affairs of this country with the exception of amending the Constitution. The other branches have no authority to interfere in Congress.
James Madison said in Federalist 51, “It is not possible to give the judicial and executive branches an equal power of self defense against the Congress, because that would undermine the republican quality of the government where the legislative authority necessarily predominates.”
Our founders were genius. They devised the system that set up the best country on earth. We are Blessed to be Americans.
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Joyce Krawiec serves in the North Carolina Senate. She represents Davie County and Forsyth County, NC. Christian, wife, mother, small business owner, and conservative.