Editor’s note: This commentary is by Deb Billado, chairwoman of the Vermont GOP.
Independence Day is a day to honor all that we love and enjoy about our country. The Declaration of Independence is the root and the trunk of the tree that bares every good fruit that has come from our blessed nation. We have so much to be grateful for, and we have achieved so much — and none of it would have happened if our forefathers hadn’t had the resolve and the bravery to stand up to an overbearing government and follow the course of their convictions even to death.
Deborah Billado, chair of the Vermont GOP
Independence Day is essentially a birthday for our nation. And I have to wonder if ever a nation had been born with such promise. One of the things that makes American unique in the world is that we are a nation that was not built primarily on a common ancestor, common language, common religion — but instead on a common ideal. “America” is just as much an idea as it is a people.
In 1776 the vast majority of the world’s people were subjects. They were under some king or emperor. But our founders had a better idea, for a new kind of nation that eliminated that distinction between royalty and the commoners. And instead of joining together a people based on any number of outward expressions or physical characteristics — they built a nation of people joined together by a belief.
This is one of the reasons that many from around the world look at the state America is in, some even comparing it to North Korea, and saying that the virtue of liberty can be lost from the nation who was not only born with it, but born because of it — then where else can the world turn.
As Ronald Reagan said, “freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.”
We must persist in our efforts to protect and preserve freedom — not only for the hope of our children, but for the hope of people around the world who see America as we see it, a great land of opportunity and possibility. Those who have come before us paid too dear a price for us to surrender so easily. Others around the world are paying too dear a price now, under various oppressive regimes, that America must remain that city on a hill.
This is one of the reasons I am a Republican. No where else do I see a greater sense of honor for our country and all that it stands for. Decades ago it seemed that Democrats used to share that same sentiment. But today they look for every opportunity to dishonor, destroy and sabotage the beautiful ideas that our nation was founded on. Sure — we’re not perfect. And unfortunately, we probably never will be. But I still believe with all my heart that there is no nation who has done more good for more people at home and abroad than ours. There is still a gap between where we are and where our ideal will take us. But we cannot close that gap by undermining the good that comes with our history. We cannot honor the ideal of our founding fathers by tearing them down.
We must put aside our differences, the way that drastically different colonies from the North and the South did in order to fight for and advance a better purer more honorable ideal of freedom than the one that they had inherited. And instead of tearing down the founders, or tearing down each other, let us instead seek to build up and strengthen all that makes this country great.
“This is one of the reasons I am a Republican. No where else do I see a greater sense of honor for our country and all that it stands for. Decades ago it seemed that Democrats used to share that same sentiment. But today they look for every opportunity to dishonor, destroy and sabotage the beautiful ideas that our nation was founded on. Sure — we’re not perfect. And unfortunately, we probably never will be”
Couln’t agree more! 😀
When are you officially throwing Phil Scott out of the party? Censoring? Seems the RNC (with Mittens Romney’s niece running it) has as much to answer for as the DNC. Liz Cheney, weak Kevin McCarthy, Lindsey (enough is enough) Graham. In Vermont, I don’t see a whole lot of push back or pressure being applied to where it needs to be – election rigging anyone? Where is the platform and messaging that needs to be said out loud instead of in zoom meetings off camera. I’d be more supportive if I saw more fight – I just see going along to get along
We only need ask these question…we can even give them the answers before we ask them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kf9zq3r87q0
The truth shall set us free.
Our schools are teaching the children below….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6tBQRslg14&t=259s
they need to change Vermonts program..it’s not “Let’s grow kids”
It should be “Let’s grow Marxists.”
Donald Trump did not get the memo to let the public fight the battle about CRT…he’s calling it out as the garbage and utterly racist platform it truly is.
Independence Day is brought to you by the freedom loving CITIZENS WITH FIREARMS…
Don’t ever forget that….
YES INDEED!
😀
Thanks for your 4th of July commentary Ms. Billado.
Perhaps because I was raised in a family where my father was a Republican and mother a Democrat, or because I have many friends of both political persuasions, that I see things a little differently.
I actually find that virtually everyone I know, regardless of their political leanings, subscribes to the ideal written in the Declaration of Independence that “all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”.
The danger to our Republic comes from those authoritarians be they on the left or right seeking to avoid the checks and balances provided in our Constitution and attempting to circumvent our system of elections and peaceful transfer of power.
Why I find the Republican Party in Vermont attractive is its emphasis on fiscal responsibility and practicality when dealing with the challenges facing us, as well as its emphasis on both personal responsibility and providing opportunities for those wishing to improve their lives.
Thank you Ms. Billado for inspiring words and fighting spirit – made my day. Soldiering on and looking ahead to better days to come for our nation, and hpoe of more Patriot Republicans to join the party and run for offices and most of all House and Senate seats in VT legislature 😀
Deb,
Very nice article though now comes the proverbial ‘but’.
“They” reject those ideals and principles contained in our Declaration of Independence. Like the Civil War where slavery and not-slavery were irreconcilable, the ideals and principles contained in our Declaration are irreconcilable with the ends of the progressives or socialists.
“They” reject the equality of man whether that be under the law or in nature, “They” reject the truths that underlie “the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God.”
“Their” epistemology believes that truth doesn’t exist or if it does it’s unobtainable. “Their” truth believes that society is a construction of power or hierarchies-of-power, obtained on the control of language or language discourse. In a nutshell, this is Post Modernism: the rejection of the Enlightenment and the modern world that those ideas brought on.
This is a repudiation of both Natural Law and Natural Right. Ultimately it devolves into a rejection of God; making man the highest graduate being on earth and thus man as God.
Karl Marx was highly influenced by the writings of atheist and anthropologist-materialist Ludwig Feuerbach, who had this chilling quote:
“The turning point in history will be the moment man becomes aware that the only God of man is man himself.”
God Bless the United States of America… as founded.
Great comment Mr Licata thanks for inspiring words and nutshell version of threat we face today – Pandoras Box of pure evil continually emanating from Democrat Party – the bastion of Marxist toalitarianism, existential threat to our Judeo-Christian society, disillusionist vision of our youth, dignity of life and worth of each human, right to protect our families and lives safety via RKBA, trashing of constitutionally protected rights – all, and most of all – turning a blind eye to the violence and burning to the ground of Dem-controlled cities and support of Bolshevik Bernie/Soros-bankrolled terrorist wing of Democrat Party – Antifa. SHAME on them all.
Thumbs up!
Another Bingo Tom!
This Countries’ motto of “E Pluribus Unum.” (Out of many cultures one culture.) This unique American cultural concept has been replaced by over 30 years of the Socialist/Communist brainwashing construct of Multiculturalism “E Pluribus Pluribus.” (Out of many cultures many cultures.). Diversity vs unity! Tribalism! No common belief system, no common values, no common goals. Divide and conquer by creating chaos aka, (“Multicultural Mayhem”)!
This destructive concept went unquestioned by the majority of Americans as they happily drank the leftist’s Kool-aid. Now we have fallen victim to their plan of domination by requiring forced order thru total government control. So sorry Deb, there are no American values remaining to jointly celebrate on the “Fourth of July”. “We are the World.” The third world of course.
“Now we have fallen victim to their plan of domination by requiring forced order thru total government control”
Big claims require big evidence, Richard.
Begin.
Patrick, you need to look at the WEF website and The Great Reset ideology, and you need to understand that the WEF sponsors Davos, where the movers and shakers meet annually, and you need to understand that the universal motto spouted by many heads of state is ‘build back better,’ the WEF motto. This ultimately means monitoring and managing everyone so that we can all stay safe from global warming and deadly germs– and white supremacy. It’s about globalism, and if you don’t think that the idea of a global government hasn’t taken hold and if you don’t think they’re trying to destroy our ‘racist’ Constitution, then you haven’t been paying attention.
Jim,
It’s conspiracy fever, it’s a sickness. What makes more sense; a global cabal of tightly disciplined genius co-conspirators with evil intent avoiding all official notice (“Hail Hydra!”)? Or people Jim disagrees with have meetings that Jim isn’t invited to? Heck, there aren’t two people on this message board who agree to that level with each other, you expect that level of alignment and control over hundreds of willful, self important people from multiple cultures?
It doesn’t happen Jim.
You’re in sore need of some homework. Here’s a start: https://www.theepochtimes.com/dr-bret-weinstein-perverse-incentives-in-the-vaccine-rollout-and-the-censorship-of-science_3885796.html
Don’t tell me: no one ever conspires to do anything, ever. Right? And the Great Reset is fiction, right? And we don’t have the technology to monitor and manage everyone, like China does today, right (they say they can find anyone within 15 minutes)? And no one, anywhere, is promoting leftist ideology that leads to the aggrandizement of the state and individuals falling in line ‘for the greater good,’ which good, BTW, you’ll likely have zero say in determining?
A lot of people fail to understand one very important point: the “co-conspirators” don’t have to know what’s going on. They simply have to do what they’re told (with the appropriate rewards to follow) and not ask too many questions. This happens all the time in the corporate world.
Freedom requires vigilance, and even if the conspiracy theorists are off-the-mark, pretty much no harm is done except that people like you don’t like them. But if there actually is a conspiracy and it’s actually stated on the WEF website, then it might be a good idea to pay some attention. If the authorities actually deny life-saving drugs to the people in order to perpetuate fear, it might be a good idea to pay attention and to start asking some questions, like, for example: why in hell would you do that?
Comrade Patrick,
The evidence is that you are living the dream. FBI, NSA, CIA, FISA Court, Socialist/Communist take over of them U.S. Military command. Some people couldn’t see the evidence if it was printed on the inside of their glasses! “The Emperor Has No Clothes!”
Hi Richard.
No, what you believe to be true simply is not true.
That’s it.
But the good news is once you make that step you can start over. Read some sources you normally wouldn’t. Learn. Expand your world.
Comrade Patrick,
I have read more than my share of books. I would refer some of them to you, however, most of them are now banned by your party. You may still have a chance to browse thru the Federalists Papers before they are purged from the National Archives.
Tho I can understand your angst, personally keeping the faith – failure is *not* an option. Predicting huge blowback against the MarxistDemocrat Party…wait until the inoculated start dropping like flies faster than they already are and the many permanently disabled including our youth – has been discovered in 2010 Harvard study only 1% of vaccine injury is reported to VAERS – and its much lower since Covid – run that thru calculator.
When the Dems awaken to the fact their Union jobs have vanished along with Jimmy Carter inflation predict a Dem exodus just as what happened in the 70s when millions rejected McCarthy, antiAmerican sentiment and prevailing lawlessness agains LE – notorious war criminal Hanoi Jane apears patriotic juxtaposed to what we have today.
GA election law declares if fraud is found election is void – which would yield @ least one senator. We will take the House in 2022 w/vengeance…Trump could run for House in FL and become speaker…or he could become speaker *without* running – speaker does not have to be a House member lol.