The most American thing one can do
July 6 � To the Editor:
A friend of mine made an excellent point this past Fourth of July regarding the importance of reminding everyone that calling out our leaders� lies and hypocrisy is about the most American thing one can do to observe Independence Day. I am furthermore a strong subscriber to the philosophy of the late Professor Howard Zinn, who once said that, �dissent is the highest form of patriotism.�
I�ve personally made a point of rereading the Declaration of Independence as part of my observance of Independence Day, for the last couple of decades, and usually follow that practice up by listening to the personalities on National Public Radio take turns reading the founding document out loud for reinforcement of what I had read.
Having thought hard enough about it this time around, I could see where some might get confused and think that the NPR broadcasters are referring to and casting slanderous remarks about POTUS #45 while they read off the long list of grievances against King George contained in the DOI.
With just a cursory read of the document, I was able to highlight at least six examples of �repeated injuries and usurpations� committed by #45 and his royal family: 1. "He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good." 2. "He has endeavored to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither;" 3. "He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers." 4. "For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world." 5. "For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments." And 6. "He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us."
It was clear to me, on this Independence Day, in the same way it was to Jefferson and the Fathers about King George, that #45 is a "Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, who is unfit to be the ruler of a free people."
Wayne H. Merritt