Their Dream Became Our Reality

When the Founding Fathers were signing the Declaration of Independence, the only guarantee they had was a British gibbet on Philadelphia’s Independence Square. Their likenesses are now imprinted on mountainsides and money, giving the impression of permanence and certainty, but in the Founding Fathers’ time, all the odds were stacked against them, and a whispered betrayal could have extinguished the dream of American independence at the end of a noose.

Notwithstanding the dangers and uncertainty, the Founders had a vision; that this country should and could govern itself, no longer as a hereditary subject of the monarchy, but as a free nation taking its place amongst the world’s powers. Given the Independence movement’s humblest origins of revolutionaries discreetly distributing pamphlets in dockyards and taverns, such a vision must have seemed hopelessly quixotic. And it surely would have been, but for the grit of our Founders who defied conventional wisdom to see their dream to fruition.

Every country has its origin story, with national personages being respected if not venerated, so you can say that the United States of America is no different in this respect. However, the United States is the only country which tolerates a mainstream trend towards vilifying our Founders. Year-round we hear certain influences reminding us that some of the Founders owned slaves or were otherwise flawed by cynical self-interest. Smug critics parrot these revelations as if they’re telling us something we don’t already know, when all they’re really telling us is that they’ve never read a damned newspaper. The news is filled with people in high and low positions who accomplish commendable feats despite ignoble motivations, or who lead exemplary careers but have some kind of moral failing like a substance addiction or a messy divorce. Only the frailest of intellects struggle to appreciate the significance of our Founders’ roles in establishing our country whilst also realizing that the Founders had personal and commercial shortcomings, just like we all do.

On this Independence Day, let’s recognize the sacrifices made by those who 247 years ago risked everything for their dream which became our reality. Let us fittingly celebrate them by re-pledging to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor that we may better secure Liberty’s blessings for every citizen of this Union!

Originally published July 4th, 2023, on Facebook.