It's time to put independence back into independence day“Jefferson and Washington fought a war for the principle of independence , that is to say the moral right of an individual to live their own life as they wish. - Michael S. Berliner Every July 4, American cities and towns fill with parades and fireworks, celebrating July 4, America's birthday. But one hopes that – next Independence Day – the speeches will contain fewer bromides and more attention to what exactly will be celebrated. July 4 is Independence Day, but American leaders and intellectuals are trying to take us further and further away from the meaning of Independence Day, from the philosophy that created this country. What we hear from politicians, intellectuals and the media is that independence is outdated, that we have reached a new era of “interdependence”. We hear demands for obligatory “volunteering” to serve others, for sacrifice to the nation. We hear trust busters calling for successful companies to be punished because they are “greedy” and not serving society. But that's not America's message. This is the exact opposite of why America has become a beacon of hope for the truly oppressed around the world. They came here to escape poverty and dictatorship; they came here to live their own lives, where they do not belong to the state, community or tribe. “Independence Day” is a title of crucial importance. This signifies the fundamental meaning of this nation, not just the holiday. The American Revolution remains unique in human history: a revolution – and a nation – founded on a moral principle, the principle of individual rights. Jefferson in Philadelphia and Washington in Valley F... middle of paper ...... The Revolution and the American Spirit. For the Founding Fathers, there was no higher authority than the individual spirit, not King George, not God, not society. Reason, Ethan Allen wrote, is “the only oracle of man,” and Thomas Jefferson advised us to “fix reason firmly to its seat, and call to its tribunal every fact, every opinion.” Boldly questioning even the existence of a God.” This is the meaning of independence: having confidence in one's own judgment, in reason; do not sacrifice your spirit to the State, the Church, the race, the nation or your neighbors. Independence is the foundation of America. Independence is what should be celebrated on Independence Day. This is the legacy left to us by our founding fathers. It is a heritage that we must preserve, not because it is a heritage, but because it is right and just. It made America the freest and most prosperous country in history..