"Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness" -- Happy Fourth of July from Thomas Jefferson and the Founders to America and the World

Last Saturday, President Donald Trump spoke to the “Celebrate Freedom Rally” at the Kennedy Center in Washington. His speech paid hommage to America's warriors and veterans, and to America's faith in God. His remarks seem particularly appropriate on this day when we celebrate the 241st anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia, marking the American decision to be a free and independent nation. It took seven hard years of struggle, deprivation and continuing faith in the righteousness of their cause for the Americans to win the freedom they had declared on July 4, 1776. General George Washington and his troops, all patriot volunteers -- and the American citizens who supported them through the valiant fight -- were determined to be free and suffered greatly for America's independence and liberty. Today, as we celebrate our freedom, and honor the soldiers who protect our liberties, we are once more fortunate and blessed by God to have a President who understands the importance of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the need for each generation of Americans to reclaim the unique rights offered by the Founders on July 4, 1776. Here are two key phrases from President Trump's "Celebrate Freedom Rally" speech : “Since the signing of the Declaration of Independence 241 years ago, America has always affirmed that liberty comes from our Creator. Our rights are given to us by God, and no earthly force can ever take those rights away. That is why my administration is transferring power out of Washington and returning that power back where it belongs to the people....Our religious liberty is enshrined in the very first amendment in the Bill of Rights. The American Founders invoked our Creator four times in the Declaration of Independence. Benjamin Franklin reminded his colleagues at the Constitutional Convention to begin by bowing their heads in prayer. Inscribed on our currency are the words : ‘In God We Trust.’ ” • DEAR READERS, we all celebrate the 4th of July, because it is not just Independence Day for Americans. It is the forever-true, forever-just, call to all peoples everywhere to fight for, protect and preserve their personal freedom and individual liberties, those essential God-given "inalienable" human rights that Thomas Jefferson enumerated for mankind so nobly in the Declaration of Independence -- "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness." Happy Fourth of July to everyone.