Released: July 5, 2012 - A commitment to freedom
Consul General Shelton
Each year at this time we celebrate the birth of the United States and recall the vision of our Founding Fathers who sought to create a vibrant and enduring democracy rooted in inalienable rights for all. We look back with respect and awe at their foresightedness, determination, and sacrifice, and we look ahead with faith and confidence as we continue to strive to attain our democratic ideals.
Two hundred thirty-five years ago yesterday, 56 men assembled in Philadelphia to sign a document declaring independence from Great Britain. It was an act that would change the course of history. As they stepped up to the table to sign what would become known as the Declaration of Independence, they recognised the risks they were taking. The last sentence of the Declaration states: “We mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honour.” Fully aware of the gravity of the moment, each made a decision to stand for liberty, democracy, and justice.
On Independence Day, we remember the indomitable spirit of those first Americans who made our democracy possible. That unyielding, independent disposition and can-do attitude continue to define us as Americans. It is what led generations of pioneers to blaze a westward trail. It is what led those living during the Great Depression and the recent recession to persevere through hard economic times. And it is what led generations of American workers to build an unrivalled industrial economy. As President Barack Obama phrased it: “Our founders' tenacity, resolve, and courage in the face of seemingly impossible odds became the bedrock of our country. That essence has permeated our land and inspired generations of Americans to explore, discover, and redefine the outer reaches of our infinite potential. It has become the foundation of the American dream.”
Our bold, positive belief in democracy has also raised expectations among people around the world that they too have the right to self-determination, prosperity, and freedom from tyranny.
Yesterday's Independence Day celebration was a chance for the United States to reaffirm its commitment to freedom and opportunity for the generations to come. Bermuda shares these democratic principles with us, so it is fitting that the 8500 Americans resident on the Island myself included commemorate and celebrate the founding of our nation together with our Bermudian friends.
The July 18, 1777, edition of the Virginia Gazette proposed that “the 4th of July, that glorious and ever memorable day, be celebrated through America, by the sons of freedom, from age to age till time shall be no more.”
With that thought in mind, I hope you had a wonderful Fourth of July.