Please observe with me one more scene from the HBO miniseries “John Adams,” in which the vote for independence is taken. Notice how heavy and somber it weighs on them after the vote, the weight of what they have done. Note that even at the public reading of the Declaration of Independence, it still weights heavily on them. They didn’t do this lightly. And many would go on to give of their fortunes, their family, their health-and even their lives, in the cause of freedom.

This is another of my favorite scenes from the HBO miniseries from a few years ago called “John Adams.” The delegates to the Continental Congress have debated for a long time on how to reclaim their God-given rights, trampled for years by the British crown. They have slowly, reluctantly, come to the realization that no amount of concilation, no amount of groveling, will work. The time has come to declare independence from Great Britain. John Adams makes this speech.

This is a clip from a fantastic HBO miniseries a few years ago called “John Adams” based on author David McCullough’s biography on John Adams. This clip reveals that the American colonies did not want to go to war against Great Britain, even after repeated insult and injury. No sane person wants to go to war lightly. But it also shows, in Adams’ passionate speeches, that there comes a time when one must either decide to lay down in abject surrender and allow tyrants to walk all over you…or you must stand up and fight for your rights and those of your countrymen.

Yes, my fellow Americans, we are not in a good place right now. As some have pointed out, while patriotic Americans are celebrating today our 236th year of independence from a tyrannical government in Europe, too many Americans are in a state of ongoing celebration of dependence on tyrannical government. As heart-wrenching and disgusting as this is, this is not the first time America has faced tough times on the Fourth of July. Bill Whittle gives us some much-needed perspective.

The Declaration of Independence was approved JULY 4, 1776. John Hancock signed first, saying “the price on my head has just doubled.” Benjamin Franklin said: “We must hang together or most assuredly we shall hang separately.” Of the 56 signers: 17 served in the military;11 had their homes destroyed; 5 were hunted and captured; Abraham Clark had two sons imprisoned on the British starving ship Jersey; John Witherspoon’s son was killed in battle; Francis Lewis’ wife was imprisoned and died from the harsh treatment; many, such as Thomas Nelson and Carter Braxton, lost their fortunes; and 9 died during the War.