What does American Independence mean for you?

Sorry for the lack of posts. Our internet has been having "ahem" problems. 

Here is some of what it means for me.

I'm going to use chunks of the Declaration and the Bill of Rights to post this.

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.

We have rights. But we also have priviledges. Some people to do not know the difference.

right:a moral, ethical, or legal principle considered as an underlying cause of truth, justice, morality, or ethics.

privilege: an advantage or source of pleasure granted to a person 

The way I see it is a right fundamentally can't be taken away. Privileges can. I remember some kids saying (maybe even myself) that they have a right to drive and get a driver's license. Wrong. You have been granted that privilege that is conditional upon your behavior. 

Our rights are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Choice. We have a choice in every situation, even if all that is left is our choice of attitude. We as Americans have been granted further rights and privileges. But we are told that with great power comes great responsibility. Are we responsible Americans? Many aren't.

Let me tell you some of the privileges you have as American's that I have seen that the Chinese people don't have. I will post these on a schedule so you all aren't inundated with words.

1st Amendment:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

In China religious groups have special permission to meet, but we are not allowed to converse, invite or participate with Chinese Nationals. If we mess up, they might even take away our ability to meet. 

The Chinese internet is severely monitored. The Chinese people can't get to blogger or many other websites and host sites that facilitate the discussions of opinions. Any website that talks about the Tibet "issue" is likewise blocked. They are so afraid of political unrest. (Justly so, since there are 1.5 BILLION Chinese people.) By the way, the Chinese are NOT trying to take over the world. If they were, they would have done it by now. 

I'm not sure about the redress of grievances in China now. I do know that while Mao was alive, to file a complaint to the government, or even mention a problem you had with the government, was considered unpatriotic and treasonous. Can you imagine being imprisoned for treason because you complained against our health care system? 

I will regularly post about our rights as Americans and the privileges that we have been granted. 

Property. Americans can own a chunk of land. That land belongs to you. The government owns EVERYTHING in China. Buildings are allowed to be built. The government leases that land for 99 years. So that mortgage that you have? That's a privilege. 

Freedom of speech: do you really know what this means? It means the government can't do anything to you because you published, spoke, etc, you opinion.