I do, like many of you, appreciate the comforts of everyday life, the security of the familiar, the peace of repetition. I enjoy them as much as anyone. July 4th, our Independence Day celebration, is approaching. Words will always retain their power and this July 4th I’m going to ask everyone to read the Declaration of Independence to their family, their friends, and most importantly their children. Many children today have never heard or read the Declaration. There are those, of course, who do not want us to read it and forget our history as I recently saw in a news story about a Louisiana congressman. Words offer the means to meaning, and for those who will listen, the enunciation of truth. And the truth is, there is something terribly wrong with this country, isn’t there?

And where once you had the freedom to object, to think and speak as you saw fit, you now have censors and the politically correct police, coercing you to conform to their will and submit to their view of the world. How did this happen? Who’s to blame? Well certainly there are those more responsible than others, and they should be held accountable, but again truth be told, if we are to look for the guilty, we need only to look into a mirror. I know why. People are afraid. Who wouldn’t be? Our government has turned into the very thing our Founding Fathers feared.

There have been a myriad of problems which conspired to corrupt our reason and rob us of our common sense. Fear! Fear being the biggest reason. Around 240 years ago our forefathers fought for fairness, justice, and freedom!

Our very foundation, our values, our future, are under assault from this tyrannical government in Washington, D.C.

We are $19.2 trillion dollars in debt. Our government is lying to us and not even trying to cover their tracks anymore. Those that are awake do not believe a word of the propaganda coming from the government. Our country is in serious trouble and yet we carry on every day as if nothing is wrong and everything is going to be fine, because why? Because it always has been. Patrick Henry said that we should guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel.

Never before in my lifetime have I seen America so divided. Our politicians and the mainstream media have been endlessly pitting various groups against one another for years, and wherever you look hearts are growing very cold.

I have said it before, and I will say it again. I believe that this is going to be the most chaotic election season that we have ever experienced, and the chaos and violence that are going to be unleashed over the next five months are going to shock the entire world.

Our founders left instruction for us should our government become tyrannical and no longer represent us. In Federalist paper 28 Alexander Hamilton stated that if the representatives of the people betray their constituents, there is then no resource left but in the exertion of that original right of self- defense. If the persons entrusted with supreme power become usurpers, the citizens must rush tumultuously to arms, without concert, without system, without resource; except in their courage and despair. I’ve said it before voting has become useless. It’s going to take a lot more than you think to save our Republic.

So if you see nothing wrong with our government or country, then carry on with your everyday life. But if you see what I see, if you feel what I feel, and if you would seek freedom as I seek, then I ask you to stand beside me. Read the Declaration of Independence to any and all who will listen. Speak out, for it costs nothing to speak out. But remaining silent could cost you everything!

Wes Rhinier lives in Rowan County.

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