On this day in history (July 4, 1776), the founding fathers of the United States signed the Declaration of Independence, which states so eloquently:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. --That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. --Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain [George III] is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

[...]

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.

[...] [Emphasis added]

That was King George they were talking about. Sounds a lot like our current self-proclaimed resident of the White House, doesn't it?

Here's Bill Pullman as President Thomas J. Whitmore in the Roland Emmerich film Independence Day (ID4):

"We will not go quietly into the night! We will not vanish without a fight!" We're going to live on! We're going to survive! Today we celebrate our Independence Day!

If you wish to regain a feeling of freedom and independence on this Fourth of July, go out and see Fahrenheit 9/11, help register some friends to vote, and encourage everyone you know to vote this November (verified by paper ballot, if at all possible) -- even if overseas.

AN ASIDE: The wake of Tropical Storm Mindulle (which has already killed at least 14 people in Taiwan) is still wreaking havoc here, despite already having been downgraded to a tropical depression and being located near South Korea. Within a 45-minute drive of where I live, there are floods, landslides, broken bridges, and trapped people. I can only hope that rescuers with the proper equipment (helicopters, boats, life vests, safety ropes, etc.) can help those in current danger.