Happy Independence Day

Tomorrow we will commemorate what is officially recognized as our nation's birth. Many people will go watch fireworks and have picnics or family get-togethers or whatever. But how many will reflect on what it is to be American? What did our founding fathers dream about when they met in Philadelphia that summer 232 years ago? It is difficult to say since there were so many important individuals involved in the Revolution and subsequent creation of self-rule. Nonetheless, I believe that many of them had a libertarian (the true meaning of the word- not the American perversion of it) bent. You can see in the ammendments to the Constitution such topics as free speech, freedom from a religious establishment, the right to not have your home invaded by the authorities without just cause, equal access to the law, etc. Reflecting on these dreams, I can see that these goals were put forth by people who didn't necessarily live up to all of them. However, the hope for progress was always there. Throughout our country's development there has been a certain back-and-forth between those who want to achieve and improve upon those goals and those who want to establish authority over the governed. We are arguably in a period where authoritarian figures trump the needs and will of the citizenry for their own agenda. For instance, our administration is quietly sounding the war trumpet against Iran. Nevermind that we are currently mired down in a quagmire in Iraq and our mission in Afghanistan is seriously crippled because of such an abyssmal abuse of authority. Nevermind that a conventional attack against Iran would certainly instigate a draft and break our treasury for generations. Nevermind that it would turn pro-Western entities within Iran against us. Forget all that and focus on the circumstances of our birth. The colonials (read: early Americans) were under the thumb of a monarchy whose primary concern was grabbing up natural resources (i.e. tobacco) for trade in an international market with a promise of amassing great wealth. These colonials were treated as subjects to be ruled rather than full partners in their own government. Naturally, they became angry and rebelled against the crown and about 8 years later won their full independence. Does this sound familiar in regards to recent foreign policy snafus? As Washington left office he warned us to beware of foreign entanglements. How prophetic a statement. We need to take heed of this advice and withdraw as the world's police officer. I am not so naive as to believe that we can totally withdraw from foreign relations altogether. However, I do believe we can be diplomatic in a way that respects the sovereignty of others rather than using the military as aid workers, consular officers, etc.