On this celebration of the founding of our country and its independence, as for the past many decades, I am very proud to be an American!

I was born in the US, a white male, and am characterized as enjoying "white privilege. Like many others in the South, the privilege that benefited me most was that my parents were totally devoted to each other and to their children. The church was an important part of my life and theirs, and though I strayed and disappointed them at times, I knew that there was a Creator God who created me and all humans in His image, and that every person deserves to be treated as such.

My parents modeled that belief in their attitudes and activities and instilled it in me and my brother. We were taught to work hard and to be fair and honest in all our dealings. We were certainly not wealthy, but we became part of the middle class over the years of working. The Ten Commandments were the foundation of morality and the Golden Rule was the embodiment.

To the best of my knowledge, we never oppressed or mistreated anyone. And without digressing to the "good old days," we didnt know we were poor, our doors were never locked, keys left in the car overnight, and we played in the streets and nearby wooded areas without adult supervision.

This particular 4th is one of great concern to me and my family. Our nation has never in my lifetime been as divided as it is today, and the next election will determine if we continue as a Democratic republic that has been a beacon for liberty in the countries of the world.

I am confounded by the Democratic Partys goal to transform the USA to a socialist country. Anyone that studies history and current affairs would know that every attempt to achieve the government goal of socialism or communism has led to a totalitarian form of government that strips the citizens of their rights and substitutes the government as the sole authority.

I can only conclude that the Democratic Party and the Cultural Elite is trying to achieve the power over our country by fueling the fires of discontent and divisiveness.

As a Christian, the platforms of the two parties leads me no alternative but to vote Republican. The Democratic Party has demonstrated that Christians have no place in their Party. The major voting blocks aligning with the Party are Planned Parenthood, the LBGTQ organizations, the activist Black organizations, billionaire elitists, and liberal press and "progressive" education groups.

Any Democrat who shows any concern about full support of any of these groups is essentially drummed out of the party. The motivating force behind all these is the "feelings" of the individual. If you disagree with their goals, youre labeled a racist, a homophobe, or a woman hater. The option of having a disagreement that leads to discourse and discussion is no longer viable. Freedom of speech is only viable if you agree with the progressive agenda.

Our Country has survived many crises in the past. We were founded on a model that understood the nature of Divine Providence, and the understanding that unless powers are divided and checks and balances provided, the rights of the citizens could suffer.

And by the way, the Founding Fathers and most of the signers of the Declaration of Independence did so because they were committed to the principals it detailed. Most of them lost their homes and their lives for that stand. Our Constitution is unique and has evolved over time, always to improve and protect the rights of all citizens. Our government isnt perfect and will never be, largely because we have lifetime politicians who are always running for reelection and seeking power and fame.

That is a situation our founding fathers never foresaw. However, throwing out the Constitution and starting over will destroy the only society that has continued for so long to protect the rights and privileges of all citizens. Think carefully about the next election.

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GUEST OPINION: Inability to discuss issues will hurt country - The News Herald