duty, but also in the eyes of soldiers returning from foreign soil where they fought to bring freedom to others and preserve it for us at home. So perhaps that is what freedom means most to me. Those dictionary definitions and real life examples serve as humbling reminders of how truly blessed I am to live in a country with so much freedom that I rarely have to question my access to it. And they also serve to obligate me to exercise that freedom in a way that preserves that liberty for my family, my friends, and my fellow citizens. AUBREY R. TAYLOR: Why are you proud to be an American? DAVID C. NEWELL: I am proud to be an American because it is founded upon self-governance and reliance. Our government was the first of its kind to secure the freedom and opportunities of the people the government serves rather than a select group of people or a single individual. Indeed, our founding fathers included checks and balances in the bones of our republic so that when one group might edge towards tyranny another group has an institutional interest in curtailing that overreach. Moreover, its citizens have a voice not only in their representatives, but in the rule of law. Because America was founded upon the principle that no man is above the law rather than the divine right of kings, citizens have a path through the court system to directly challenge laws that infringe upon their constitutional rights. And where government exceeds its authority, it is always within the power of the governed to affect meaningful change. This interplay between rights and responsibilities is unique in the world, and it is the cornerstone of what makes America great. It provides an example to the rest of the world as a shining city on a hill and a harbor to those who want to share in the American dream. And it fosters such an abundance of freedom and opportunity that those who enjoy its blessings rarely have occasion to question those gifts.
INTERVIEW: Chris Carmona the Republican Candidate for State Representative for House District 148 discusses freedom AUBREY R. TAYLOR: What does freedom mean to you? CHRIS CARMONA: Freedom is different things to different people depending on their background and what struggles they went through growing up. For me, Freedom is having the ability to pursue any goal or dream I choose in a country that stands for building your own destiny. Freedom is the ability to be me without feeling that I will be prosecuted for not fitting a typical mold of another. Freedom is the ability to sleep at night without fear that injustices that occur elsewhere around the world, don’t make it into our neighborhoods because of the sacrifices that our soldiers make to keep us safe. To me, Freedom is the essence of being an American. AUBREY R. TAYLOR: Why are you proud to be an American? CHRIS CARMONA: I’m proud to be an American because there is no other country in the world that has the opportunities that we do. Recently those opportunities have been trampled on and suppressed, but I am fully confident that we will right the ship. But see, that’s what makes America so great. Even in our darkest hours, we have the ability to come out stronger than before and become an even greater country. We are compassionate people who have the heart for seeing others succeed and we support each other when times get rough. Where else in the world can we succeed, fail, and then succeed again all in the same lifetime? That’s only in America. We are the country of 19