Craven Moorehead - TIME CAPSULE FROM 2012

FREEDOM ... A COSTLY PRIVILEGE!

- Craven

Ahhh Summertime! And at the pinnacle of the season is the hottest day of the year. That day would be the 4th of July. To most, it’s just another day off. But to some of us Independence Day, as it is often referred to, is more than just an excuse to cook-out, get drunk, and terrify our neighbors with amateur pyrotechnics displays. I was in that group of those who remembered how we became this great nation of freedom, so I thought I would give a little remedial education to those that have forgotten.

If we were to examine the Declaration of Independence carefully, we would discover that the signing of that document was considered tyranny by the crown, and the original signors did so at the risk of being executed by the ‘government’ that was in place at that time. It’s a long tape to rewind all the way back to 1776, but further examination of succession that took place way back then is the very beginning of our current nation. It seems thirteen colonies wanted to declare their independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. This action, during the American Revolution was actually taken and drafted on the second of July, but it was ratified by the existing congress on July fourth. Some of the more memorable names involved in this declaration are Thomas Jefferson whom was the chief author of the document, and John Adams who wrote to his wife Abigail: