INDEPENDENCE—ONLY THE GATEWAY TO FREEDOM

By Edwin Cooney

It happens every three-hundred and sixty-fifth day—okay every three-hundred and sixty-sixth day during leap years. We, the people of the United States celebrate our independence—as we should.

Ever since you and I were in the third grade, we’ve listened to the stirring stories of 1776. We’ve heard how thirty-three-year-old Thomas Jefferson, aching with concern over the frail health of his young wife Martha back in Virginia, nevertheless eloquently stated the case for our independence as he sat at his portable writing desk in that hot Philadelphia attic. We’ve thrilled to the story of Caesar Rodney of Delaware who made the “all night ride” to Philadelphia from Wilmington to cast Delaware’s vote for independence from George III. We’ve been inspired time and again by stories of the fate of the fifty-seven signers of the Declaration of Independence who pledged each other their “lives, fortunes and sacred honor” for our independence. Still the question remains: why? to what purpose? Did the “founding fathers” -- who would be so labeled for the first time by one of our least revered presidents, Warren G. Harding -- fully understand the consequences of what they were doing?

The answer is clear – not all of them did. Independence from Great Britain was a gateway to freedom, but it was only the first step. Even after the combination of George Washington’s evasive generalship and the French Navy secured our independent nationhood, most Americans hadn’t the slightest idea what to do with the independence we’d just won. Example, you ask?

In 1783, George Washington found it necessary to severely scold Lewis Nicola, an Irish-born Brevet General in the Continental Army, who wrote to him suggesting that he become the new nation’s first king. In 1786, either Nathaniel Gorham, President of the Continental Congress, or Frederick von Stuben, one of Washington’s favorite Prussian military advisors, recommended to Alexander Hamilton that Prince Henry of Prussia—younger brother of Frederick the Great—be offered America’s crown. Hence, not all of our “founding fathers” saw either democracy or republicanism as the new nation’s loadstar.

As we celebrated the two-hundred and thirty-third anniversary of our independence last weekend, Americans remained divided over the meaning and application of liberty, the noblest if not the most immediate gift of the “Spirit of 1776”.

Though we gained independence from George III on that bright afternoon of Friday, October 19, 1781 when General Washington and the French Navy cornered the forces of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown, Virginia, our national independence created only the opportunity for our personal freedom.

What Thomas Jefferson once referred to as “the disease of liberty” came first to white male property owners and both gradually and painfully over time to laborers, women, blacks, and the “politically incorrect”.

Thus, even as we swallowed hotdogs, potato salad, sweet corn and watermelon, even as we swilled down soda and beer last weekend and watched baseball and fireworks displays, it was “independence” not “freedom” that was the object of our celebration. The political question, even today, invariably is: whose freedom is most precious?

If a rich corporate magnate is granted unfettered freedom, what does that say about the rights of the laborer or of the consumer? If no man or woman is granted rights because of race, religion or gender, what does that do to the freedom to either associate or disassociate one’s self? Was Franklin Delano Roosevelt right or wrong when he asserted: “Those words ‘freedom’ and ‘opportunity’ do not mean a license to climb upwards by pushing other people down.”

Even as our newly minted president Barack Obama seeks to stabilize and expand our economy, widen the benefits of healthcare, and regulate credit, the debate goes on as to whose freedom he’s expanding or curbing.

All of us are, in one way or another, producers, laborers, consumers, and, ultimately, voters. We’re jealous of our own freedom while too often not jealous enough of the freedom of others!

Looking for a national holiday all of us might well endorse with enthusiasm? How about National Freedom Day? The ideal date would be October 19th, but come to think of it, we’d probably have to eliminate Halloween thus abrogating the rights and freedoms of every kid in America.

Whoops! That won’t do! Who said inviting Prince Henry of Prussia to be our king was the worst idea ever contrived? I just beat it!

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,

EDWIN COONEY