Independence day and what it means to

INDEPENDENCE DAY AND WHAT IT MEANS

TO BE INDEPENDENT

The United States of America on this year’s Fourth of July will be commemorating its 244 years of independence from the British ruling centuries ago. Independence Day is one of the most universally recognized American holidays which is marked on July 4 every year. The day commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Independence on the same date in 1776.

Before that date, all the 13 American colonies which are today referred as states were part of the vast British

Empire. The 13 colonies include;

Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia,

Maryland, Massachusetts, New

Hampshire, New Jersey, New York,

North Carolina, Pennsylvania,

Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Virginia. The colonies were governed by various charters under the rule of the then King of

England, George III. The distance between the American colonies and the Great Britain was a six-week journey sailing across the Atlantic Ocean on wooden sailing ships. Due to this large distance and existence of a long period of partial governance, the colonists began to resist the British rule in the 1760s. Tensions and hostility began to grow and sometimes violent confrontations which resulted to deadly events such as the Boston Massacre of 1770 and the Battles of Lexington, Concord and Bunker Hill in 1775.

Later, the Second Continental Congress secretly voted for the colonies to declare their independence from Great Britain on July 2, 1776. Two days later July 4, the official wording for the Declaration of Independence was finalized and the document published. A month later, delegates from all the 13 colonies began signing it. Knowing well that the action would be treated as an act of treason by the Great Britain, the signatories declared the following at the end of the document, “We mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.”

The Declaration of Independence stated that the Colonies considered themselves a sovereign collection of states with each state fully independent and free from any allegiance to Great Britain. The struggle was not yet over as it took the American Revolutionary War which was ended by the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783. The treaty ended the war on official terms and recognized American independence. From the history of Independence Day, it is important that you note the following;

A lot of people fought and paid dearly for the freedom and independence we enjoy today. The current occupants of the U.S.A were not the original residents of the continent. Therefore, no one amongst us all is the original occupant of America; we all moved to America apart from those who are called the Native Americans.

What does it mean to be Independent?

Having understood the events behind the commemoration of Independence Day, it is important to ask yourself what it really means to be independent. Some animals such as the domesticated ones or the ones in the zoo can never celebrate independence because they are never independent. When Americans are celebrating Independence, are they independent for sure.

Being independent means so much more than just making your own decisions and not being answerable to any other external powers. Being independent also means how much efforts we put towards ensuring global peace and oneness in humanity. Being independent means giving everyone the chance to live with an identity in a nation until the last moment. We may go about beating chests that we are all the same but this will remain to be words until we put it in actions. And that is when we will have independence.

America is not yet independent if we are still addressing the issues of inequality, discrimination, and

social injustices on the minorities in America 244 years later. The narrative of discrimination against the black Americans remains to be heard and experienced with every passing day. With the latest incident of the brutal killing of an offense less African-American man, George Floyd, it is evident that we are not yet independent. It is so saddening to be talking about equal treatment of all Americans regardless of their ethnicity in the 21st century.

What Does Real Independence Look Like?

Real independence is giving every American equal right and treating everyone in America equally, regardless of their ethnicity. Real independence is giving equal opportunities to every American in terms of educational access and job opportunities. Independence is when an African-American is arrested with respect and charged fairly in a court of law.

Real independence is when the AfricanAmericans can have their morning run freely and return to their houses safely. Real independence is when a black man in America can walk freely in the city streets and return to his family safely. Real independence is giving everyone a chance to live the American dream. Anything else that is needed to live the American dream is already provided by nature, without discrimination, without partiality and without preference. Until then, American has not yet attained real independence.

Works cited.

https://www.hfcc.edu/news/2019/whatindependence-day-means

HOME OWNERSHIP by Eric Lawrence Frazier MBA

Home ownership brings stability to individuals and families who have never had a dwelling place that they could call their own. There is something special about owning real estate that is unlike anything else on earth you can own.

Real Estate you own is not like cars that decay over time and you have to replace them. Real Estate you own is not like clothes that go out of style and you have to buy new ones. Real Estate you own is not like expensive vacations or experiences that only last a moment in time. Real Estate you own is not like an apartment where the landlord may increase the rent until it’s no longer affordable. Real Estate you own is not like staying at your parents house where you know can’t stay forever.

Home ownership is the beginning of wealth that increases over time and becomes your estate & legacy Home ownership is the pride of a mother nurturer and the kitchen her domain Home ownership is the pride of a father provider and protector of his territory and family. Home ownership is the foundation of permanence and the place where life happens, birthdays celebrated, deaths mourned.

Home ownership is the place you build memories that can never be taken from you. Memories etched in walls and concrete, experienced in rooms and floors, Memories living in trees and shrubs planted by your hand. Howe ownership is the manifestation of you - your style, your colors, your smell, your stuff, your junk, your memories, your yard and your spaces, your life.

It’s the height markers on your first child’s bedroom wall. It’s the hearts drawn in the concrete slabs when you pour your patio floor It’s the birthday parties, and anniversaries in the living room and kitchen. It’s the back yard barbecue with friends, neighbors and family contentions it’s the high school and college graduation, and wedding receptions Its’ the family nights and block parties and the fellowship of family connections

Home ownership

It’s more than real estate. Land, brick and mortar, wood frame construction and chicken wire. It’s more than money saved, gifts recieved and grants obtained It’s more than the debt you incur to buy it. It’s more than the payments you make to own it. It’s more than the appreciation that comes with keeping it over time. It’s memories, it’s family, and it’s life that can happen in one place

Until you say it’s time to move.