My annual 4th of July post, without any comment to our current situation:

As a veteran & citizen of this great country I take special pride and understanding in what this holiday we celebrate today represents.

As we enjoy our Fourth of July celebrations today, let is not forget what we are truly celebrating. On this day in 1776 the Second Continental Congress came together to sign the Declaration of Independence. This was an unprecedented document/action at the time but was essential for the citizens, then "subjects" of the Crown, to make. This document clearly laid out our grievances with the Crown and stated why we could not continue living under the Crown's rule.

In those days, the People of the American colonies, which were then composed of 13 states, faced oppressive taxation with no say in how they were governed. They were under the governing body of a monarchy which didn't care one bit about the needs or desires of the people under it, only the revenue those people could bring it.

Deciding enough was enough, the People of the States of the American colonies declared that they had the God-given right of self determination, a right to control their own destiny. They united (becoming 13 "United States"), stood up and penned this document declaring our independence from the tyranny we lived under. They pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honour. These men, our "Founding Fathers", knew their actions would likely be signing their own death warrants. Even so, they felt it was better to die on their feet free than live on their knees as slaves to the monarchy.

Their words, quoted in the OP, hold true and strong even today. These are the words which formed our nation.