JULY 5TH: THE DAY AFTER INDEPENDENCE

As I listened and observed and kept reading all the July 4th Independence day wishes across the ineternet and the radio it made me think even more than I normally do. Yep hard to believe huh? The one thing that all had in common on Independence day, at least those who actually reflect on the meaning instead of the day off, were the words from our Constitution: "Life,Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

I decided to really break down the meaning of these words for those who generally just do not get it so here goes.

Let's look at the dictionary meaning of life;

Life

a. The interval of time between birth and death: She led a good, long life.
b. The interval of time between one's birth and the present: has had hay fever all his life.
c. A particular segment of one's life: my adolescent life.

Seems clear enough by definition does it not? One would think so anyway. Life defines the interim between when you were born and when you die. The quality of life however is based on the choices you make during this interim.

Liberty defined;

lib·er·ty (lbr-t)
n. pl. lib·er·ties
1. a. The condition of being free from restriction or control.
b. The right and power to act, believe, or express oneself in a manner of one's own choosing.
c. The condition of being physically and legally free from confinement, servitude, or forced labor.
2. Freedom from unjust or undue governmental control.
3. A right or immunity to engage in certain actions without control or interference: the liberties protected by the Bill of Rights.

Want to know what pursuit means? No problem.

pur·suit (pr-st) n.

1. The act or an instance of chasing or pursuing.
2. The act of striving
3. An activity, such as a vocation or hobby, engaged in regularly.

And finally the ever elusive happiness;

hap·py (hp)
adj. hap·pi·er, hap·pi·est
1. Characterized by good luck; fortunate.
2. Enjoying, showing, or marked by pleasure, satisfaction, or joy.
3. Being especially well-adapted; felicitous: a happy turn of phrase.
4. Cheerful; willing: happy to help.

Happiness See also attitudes; moods, ataraxia

a state of tranquility free from anxiety and emotional disturbance. — ataractic, ataraxic, adj.

We have the inalienable right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Pay attention to the definitions above. Many get confused with this as meaning we have the right to life, liberty, and happiness. Nowhere does our Constitution read this no matter how the politicians spin it.

Only you can define happiness as it is different fro each of us. Life? We don't control that period of time only what we do during it. Liberty? Now we are talking. Let me ask a few questions.

Are you using this life to make a better America by holding our leadership accountable to what our Constitution grants us? Do you believe that our liberty is eroding more and more everyday? Are you truly free from confinement, servitude, or forced labor by our Government today?

Finally, do you feel you can truly pursue happiness as stated above?

Too many times today we see our elected officials continue to look after their own self interests instead of ours. We continue to be led down a path of irrelevance, in my opinion, based on the same leaders doing it to we the people instead of doing their jobs for we the people.

Hopefully, we the people will remember the reason for the season in our elections and actually focus on the meaning of this holiday instead of just looking for another day off work.

One can only hope anyway.