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Now that the Fourth of July Is in

Our Rearview Mirror...

Now What?

by Lois Bolin, Ph.D., Old Naples Historian
Wayne and I have always The great English jurist Sir William Blackstone,
celebrated the Fourth of July whose writings profoundly influenced the Founders,
the same way—cookouts, described natural law as the will of the Creator
parades, family, friends, and impressed upon all humanity. His work helped shape
fireworks. It's one of those the legal philosophy behind the Declaration and,
traditions that anchors the ultimately, our constitutional system.
summer and reminds us why Long before Philadelphia in 1776, the Mayflower
we're so blessed to live in this extraordinary Compact reflected a similar understanding. While it
country. wasn't the legal blueprint for the Declaration, it revealed
But this year was different. a people who believed self-government required moral
This wasn't just another Independence Day. responsibility and accountability to God.
It was America's 250th birthday—a celebration Of course, our Founders weren't identical in
unlike any we'll likely experience again in our their religious beliefs. Some were deeply committed
lifetime. Christians. Others leaned toward Deism. Yet despite
Our day started at the City of Naples July 4th their differences, they agreed on something profoundly
Parade and continued with a cookout at VFW important: our rights exist independent of government
Post 7721. Later that evening, we settled in with Brookiepoo, because they come from a higher authority.
Lulu, Jessie, James, and our special guest, Brutus, to watch the That's a remarkable consensus.
magnificent celebration from Washington, D.C. As fireworks lit The Declaration was followed by the Constitution and the
the skies over our nation's capital, I found myself thinking less Bill of Rights, three documents that continue to define who we
about the spectacle and more about the words that made it all are as Americans. Every member of our military and every law
possible. enforcement officer swear an oath to support and defend the
Not the Constitution. Constitution—not a political party, not a president, not even the
Not the Bill of Rights. flag—but the Constitution itself and the freedoms it protects.
The Declaration of Independence. Samuel Adams understood the significance of that moment.
It amazes me that fifty-six men—with different personalities, Shortly after the Declaration was adopted, he declared:
backgrounds, and interests—could agree on anything, let alone "We have this day restored the Sovereign to whom alone men
produce one of the most influential political documents in human ought to be obedient..."
history. Every word was debated. Every phrase mattered. They Whether one approaches these words from faith, history, or
knew they weren't simply writing a protest against a king; they philosophy, they remind us that America was founded on the
were declaring to the world what they believed about freedom, conviction that freedom carries responsibility, that rights come with
human dignity, and the source of our rights. duties, and that self-government requires self-discipline.
One sentence, in particular, continues to echo across nearly Now the parades are over.
two and a half centuries: The grills have cooled.
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are The fireworks have faded into memory.
created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with America's 250th birthday celebration has passed.
certain unalienable Rights..." But perhaps the real celebration shouldn't end on July 4.
Notice where those rights come from. Perhaps it should begin on July 5th because preserving liberty
Not from Congress. requires more than waving flags once a year. It requires citizens who
Not from a president. understand where our freedoms came from, why they matter, and
Not from a court. what each generation must do to preserve them.
According to the Declaration, they come from our Creator. The Founders gave us more than a nation.
That idea changed history. They entrusted us with an idea.
The Declaration doesn't mention God just once. It refers to Whether that idea flourishes for another 250 years depends not
"Nature's God," our "Creator," the "Supreme Judge of the world," on them—but on us.
and "Divine Providence." These weren't ornamental expressions. Readers, you can see Dr. Bolin on 239LIVE Morning Show on
They reflected a worldview shared by much of the founding Tues. and Fri. from 10 am - noon on FB, IG, or YouTube.
generation—that liberty wasn't a gift from government but a gift Got ideas? Whether it’s for LIN stories or 239LIVE guests,
from God, and that government's purpose was to protect those contact BubbyBeeCharmer@pm.me.
God-given rights, not create them.
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