Patriotism. Love of country. In God We Trust. Traditional values. Our American heritage. September 11, 2001. Are they all forgotten?

Not here on The Forgotten Street -- Main Street USA. In the face of a very critical 2008 election, we want to reclaim the heart of America, to rekindle the common thread of patriotism that should bind all Americans on such major issues as national security, traditional values and energy independence. We will provide you with hard-hitting commentary that cuts through the half-truths, obfuscation and outright lies propagated by the elite media. The Forgotten Street is your source for the real story behind the headlines.

J.C's Corner

July 4, 2008 -- Happy Independence Day, America!

For some, today may seem a tad bittersweet, as we struggle with a slumping economy, soaring gas and food prices, and a Congress that is completely impotent and irrelevant.

But all things considered, I’d rather be here than any other land of earth. So apparently would much of the rest of the world, given how many people are trying to come here.

What makes America such a global Mecca is the boundless opportunity here to realize your dreams. It’s a country that still puts a premium on the individual, although the socialist Left is doing all it can to change that.

That’s the beauty of what our Founding Fathers created. The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution imbued the individual with the ultimate rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

And for the past 232 years, the individual has held the upper hand in America. That is why it is more critical than ever to fight tooth and nail against the ever-encroaching socialism that pushes for bigger government and the need for individuals to join the socialist collective.

The recent Supreme Court decision of lifting the ban on handguns in Washington D.C. is a perfect example. While the leftists decry the street violence in our nation’s capital, they fail to comprehend a fundamental right that our Founders honored in the Constitution: you and I have a supreme right to defend ourselves and our families against all manners of threats.

If you lived in the District of Columbia, would you want to rely on a phone call to 911 or a firearm to defend your property and family against intruders?

What right does government have to deny you the fundamental right to self-defense? Of course, the government can put reasonable restrictions on the possession and use of firearms, but in no way should it deny you the right to own them if you are a mentally competent, law-abiding citizen.

America on this July 4th faces a crossroads. Are we still going to be the land of the rugged individual, or will we succumb to the siren call of socialism that has turned much of Europe into a stagnant, failed society? The cradle-to-grave security net sounds awfully appealing to many, but it carries with it the chains that keep people from enjoying the ultimate in freedom.

As President George Bush has often said, the human spirit yearns for that freedom and liberty. That yearning is inate in all of us. It is God-given, and as long as true American patriots draw a breath, it will be the spark that fuels the fire of freedom that lights the world.

Thanks for reading! Always remember, it’s a great day to be an American! I’m traveling to my hometown Pittsburgh for the weekend, and will write when I can.

Past columns from J.C.'s Corner

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