Happy Birthday, America!

Two hundred and twenty-three years ago, our country was born with the Declaration of Independence from England's tyrannical rule. Typically we Americans celebrate with fireworks, picnics, parades, family get-togethers.

This year, because we are facing a similar situation to that which our Founding Fathers faced with a government attempting to seize control in every area of our existence, many towns and cities held rallies or "tea parties." Our small town was no exception.

In front of our county courthouse under a large oak tree, several hundred gathered waving American flags, "Don't Tread on Me" flags and various protest signs against Cap and Trade, Illegal Immigration, Seizure of Health Care, etc. We listened to a local radio host read the Declaration of Independence and exhort us to greater faith in God and diligence in speaking out against tyranny.

In doing so we were exercising our God-given rights of freedom of speech and freedom of assembly.

Do we realize that, unless this government's trajectory is stopped, by America's next birthday we may no longer have those rights?

Impossible, many say. Not in America!

Not in the America of our youth, or even last year. But elections have consequences, and this past one's consequences are dire, even deadly for our Republican form of government, for the freedoms won by blood and taken for granted by all of us for far too long.

It's not too late to turn things around. But it has to be now, before the current government steals more of our money and our freedom. We must all make our voices heard and pray with a heart turned back to God.

"If the press is not free; if speech is not independent and untrammeled; if the mind is shackled or made impotent through fear, it makes no difference under what form of government you live, you are a subject and not a citizen." --William E. Borah