To the editor:
As we come up to our national holiday, July 4, celebrating that Declaration of Independence in 1776, it may be time to ask ourselves, “What is a patriot?”
I was brought up to think of that break from English tyranny as a brave act of independence. Imagine a few colonies of immigrants, mainly from England and other European countries, but also from Africa, the slaves of farmers who could afford to buy them, imagine them deciding to go against the mighty English army and navy, and say, “We want to make our own rules, be free to have our own flag, not be under the rule of a king.”
There was a big fight when England didn’t want to give up control of the colonies which were sending tax money and goods back to them. But our forefathers wanted to have some say in how that money was spent, and called this “taxation without representation.”
It was not easy deciding on how to be that new country. But with lots of debate and some concessions on all sides, the Articles of Confederation were drawn up and voted on by the landowners, all males. (No doubt the women had some say, if only in their husbands’ ears … pillow talk.)
A few years later, our founding fathers drafted a constitution to have laws to go by, to settle disputes, to maintain order, and to prevent anyone taking the role of “King.”
They set up a democracy, where citizens can vote for their leaders, put limits on their powers, and have a way to pass new laws as needed. Congress has the power to confirm the outcome of elections and to impeach or remove a leader who is not keeping the laws. “No one is above the law,” not even its leaders or its judges.
Today we find ourselves with such a leader who allegedly has broken some laws. He claims he is above the law. He does not accept the power of Congress or judges as having authority over him. He even talks of pardoning himself!
Is this a problem? What would our founding fathers say? Who is fit to govern this democracy? What do you think? How much do we care about our freedom and independence? Yes, it is a good time to ask “Who is a patriot?”
Mary Ellen Myers
Alto