Quintessentially American

Freedom, in all forms, is quintessentially American.  It is the foundation upon which this great, even unparalleled, country has been built.  When the first settlers arrived centuries ago (no, they did not "discover" a continent already home to indigenous populations of what we now call Native Americans), they came seeking freedom from government oppression.

Then, as the documents declaring and forming our country were written, freedom was the core value.  The Bill of Rights could just as easily be called the Bill of Freedoms, so imperative is the very sense of freedom.

Yes, much has changed over the years.  Industrialization.  Technology.  Medicine.  Transportation.  Flight.  Communication.  Just some of the facets of American life to have changed.  In each area, freedom can be seen.  Freedom from illness.  Freedom from manual labor.  Freedom from bigotry and racism.  Freedom to speak and write.  Freedom to openly communicate across great distances.  Even freedom from the very bonds of gravity.  Freedom from, and freedom to.  Essential elements of the American way of life.

Freedom of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Yet, from this vantage point, it seems the lessons of our rich history of freedom have been lost on all too many.  Particularly those inclined to seek elected office and, recently, inclined to pose as journalists and activists.

Rather than embrace the concept of unique American freedom, they seek to restrict it.  Every aspect of our lives is impacted by some level of government working at  limiting our freedoms.  And the main stream media and activists bay loud and long wanting to limit someone else's freedoms.  How we got to this point is unclear, but it is certain we are there.

Fortunately, common sense and American values are beginning to turn the tide.

For example, one of the basic freedoms involves being a child.  Yet some have convinced themselves and others that parents can't safely raise their children without government mandates.  Without excessively restrictive government oversight.  

When a child is not be allowed to walk to the store without his/her parents being accused of child abuse, then our nation is in serious trouble.  The overly controlled child of today will be an ineffective adult tomorrow. 

Fortunately, Utah has seen the error of this approach and recently corrected its laws in what is termed "free range parenting."  

Applaud this move, because it both embraces American freedom and works at ensuring children grow up to become productive adult members of society, not so-called snowflakes that can't care for themselves.