Republican Club
By Brian Harmon
LW contributor
What does the flying of the American flag, fireworks, parades, barbecues, hot dogs, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, family reunions and political speeches all have in common?
The Fourth of July, Independence Day, of course!
On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress declared the United States were free and independent from Great Britain and no longer subject to the rule of the British King George III.
Most people don’t know that two days earlier, the Congress had actually “voted” to declare Independence, although Independence was not officially “declared” until two days later.
John Adams predicted fairly accurately how Independence Day would be celebrated, although his prediction missed by two days. Writing to his wife, Abigail, on July 3 of that year, he said, “July second, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.”
The most contentious issue debated in Independence Hall at the Continental Congress in Philadelphia were federalism and slavery. The problem of slavery and equal rights for all were not easily solved. The southern states refused to support independence if it included the abolition of slavery. The representatives of the central and northern states, although they were committed to abolishing slavery, they felt that defeating the British was not possible without the south. So they voted for an independence that allowed slavery to continue.
The issue of slavery was finally solved by the Civil War, in which over 600,000 Americans died. That death total is greater than all of the other wars combined. That war was followed by the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments to the Constitution guaranteeing, in theory, equal rights of all Americans. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 brought the U.S. closer to reaching the ideal of equal rights for all.
The struggle to achieve the goal of a fair and just society a reality has continued over the past 55 years, with many bumps along the road. It obviously took a major step backward this year when a police officer in Minneapolis killed George Floyd, an unarmed black man, by pressing his knee to the innocent man’s throat for nearly nine minutes while three other officers looked on and did nothing.
Unfortunately, the outrage that led to lawful and peaceful demonstrations also led to violent demonstrations, rioting, and calls for defunding the police and reducing their ability to fight crime. In my opinion, doing so would result in increases in crime including murder, which has been falling since the 1990s. The challenge now is to push forward together, working for a fairer and more just society, without significantly reducing the power of the police to fight crime. •••• The Republican Club booth will reopen from 11-2, Monday, July 6, in the parking lot near Building 6 (the gym and table tennis place) every Monday though August. We hope to be open three days a week in September. Every Monday will be Red, White and Blue Hat Day. If you don’t have any hats of one of those colors, any patriotic, Republican or conservative hat will do.
Hats and other election paraphernalia will be available for sale, and 600 masks will also be available.
