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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Glenn Gruenhagen (R)

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Happy Independence Day from Rep. Glenn Gruenhagen

Friday, June 30, 2017

Dear Friends,

This Independence Day, I would like to take a moment to acknowledge how very fortunate we are to live in our great nation. Founded by ordinary men with an extraordinary vision, the United States of America has been a beacon of freedom’s light throughout a dark world since its founding over 200 years ago.

Our country was founded as a representative democratic republic, based on unalienable God given rights. There is a great difference between a republic based on state's rights with checks and balances on the will of the majority versus a democracy where the most votes win and where more highly populated states can exploit states with smaller populations.

History records that when Ben Franklin was asked what form of government he had given us, he replied, "A republic, if you can keep it." Our nation's founding fathers believed that democracies soon crash and burn. In contrast, our Republic, based on the idea that we are "endowed by our Creator, with certain unalienable rights" has provided a stable government for over 200 years. This has allowed individuals the maximum amount of liberty and prosperity that the world has ever known.

Most people know the opening verses of the hymns, My Country Tis of Thee and America the Beautiful, but I find the following two verses bring special meaning to the birth of our nation as we celebrate the 4th of July.

“Our fathers' God, to thee,

Author of liberty,

To thee we sing;

Long may our land be bright

With freedom's holy light.

Protect us by thy might,

Great God, our King!”

-My Country Tis of Thee, Verse 4

 

“Oh, beautiful for pilgrim feet,

Whose stern, impassioned stress

A thoroughfare of freedom beat

Across the wilderness!

America! America!

God mend thine ev’ry flaw,

Confirm thy soul in self-control,

Thy liberty in law.”

-America the Beautiful, Verse 2

 

We are truly blessed to live in a nation founded on liberty and the equality of all peoples under a good and merciful God. I hope you find time to celebrate these blessings this Independence Day.


Sincerely,

Glenn