July 4, 1776

On this day I like to remember the beginnings of our government, and appreciate what a true microcosm the American Experiment was. It was a day where a young red-headed politician cemented his place not only in American history, but also World History. The government the Americans had proposed to create had never been done before. In order to create that government, the British cord had to be cut. Independence had to be declared. On July 4, 1776, something truly began that can still be admired today.

At that time, the best equipped and trained army was England’s. All those politicians had to know what they were in for when they signed and sealed that document. They knew, but they also had a plan. The best way to defeat England was not to confront directly, but to wear by attrition. Our Commander George Washington figured that out early in the war.

The Americans knew that England would easily destroy them if they confronted them head on. That is why our greatest victories were those where the Americans had the advantage of surprise. It wasn’t even until French involvement that the war finally tipped in our favor. July 4 was the beginning of an impossible revolution, and when the British surrendered formally in 1783, something beautiful was born.

Our government’s beauty is in its Constitution. The key to the Constitution’s longetivity is its spirit of compromise and flexibility. I could go on for pages, but it is those two aspects that ensure the world’s longest living Constitution. Everyone knows about the distribution of power between three bodies (Executive, Legislative and Judicial), each with its own power which usually abuts someone else’s power. This ensures that no body has too much power, in short it guarantees compromise.

The Amendment system guarantees flexibility. I believe our Forefathers knew that change would come in the future and used the Amendments to give a way to accomodate change while still respecting the integrity of the Constitution. Just look at the voting rules for approving an Amendment, they are nearly prohibitive. They require an overwhelming majority to pass. We can accomodate change, but only if a great majority of Americans want it so. It protects the minority from the majority.

It always helps to remember where we started to appreciate how far we’ve come, and in some cases what work still needs to be done. America has never been perfect, but our governing document and governing bodies have always had the recipe for compromise and flexibility to ensure a long and prosperous life for the United States of America. A life that began on a hot July day in 1776.