My Declaration of Independence

What Independence Means To Me:
I am one of the fortunate ones in this world. I was born in the United States of America in a time where the rights of women had been fought for and won. We can vote, run for political office, and even be president. We have the right to work the same jobs as man at equal pay. We have the right to choose whether to bring a life into this world. And we have the right, if we so choose, to be a stay at home mom and know that the job we do is important also.

I feel blessed when I think of all the women in other countries of the world who have no rights as a person. There was a period in my life that I was made to feel subservient to others. It was a long hard battle but one that I won. A harsh lesson in my life but I discovered me.

Independence Day in 1993 was the day I realized what my independence meant to me. After 12 years of beatings and verbal abuse I had left my ex-husband. I was afraid and alone with three children to raise. I think until this day I was just functioning, not really living, just exisiting and taking up space in the world.

This 4th of July was different. It was the first one where I chose what I wanted to do. I spent the day with a friend and my children. That evening we decided to drive to Charleston (our state capitol) and let the kids see some real fireworks. Now I was never someone who really got into the whole fireworks thing. Maybe because of the life I had before. But this year when the fireworks starting going off a chill ran down my spine. As I listened to the Star Spangled Banner playing on loud speakers and watched the colorful display of the lights overhead, an awakening came over me.

My forefathers many years before had established my country for the soul reason of FREEDOM. For thirty years I had lived my life with others telling me what to do. Suddenly I realized that I was free. Free to do what I wanted and when and how I chose. And that night I decided to do exactly that.

That awakening on the 4th of July gave me the courage to go through with my divorce and begin to live a life of FREEDOM. Now I make my decisions. Right or wrong they are all mine. And forever will my life remain in my hands.

So many times people have asked me why I remain single. They somehow feel I should marry and let a man take care of me. Maybe someday I will marry again, but it will have to be to someone that respects me and my rights to be me. Someone who encourages my dreams and allows me room to make choices.

So much has happened over the years since I awakened to my new found FREEDOM. A few have shaken me into some tough decisions. But, the attack on my country on September 11, 2001 brought about a change in me. A new awakening began. No longer would or could I take for granted the FREEDOM that was handed to me by my forefathers.

As I cried for the losses so many suffered that day, part of my tears were also for my country. Someone was attacking our FREEDOM. Through jealousy and rage they were trying to tear down our way of life. But what I saw in return were people who were standing strong and ready to fight once again for FREEDOM. The country was draped in red, white, and blue everywhere you looked. Flags were flying proud and high at every home and business. America was standing strong and united.

I am proud to say that I am a citizen of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA! I will forever stand beside our fight to keep America the home of the brave and the land of the FREE.







My other patriotic pages:
The Declaration of Independence
The Flag
Taps
Memorial Day
September 11th Memorial













Content, design, and graphics ŠThe Runaway Bride 2002.

The wav "Independence Day" by Martina McBride is for your listening pleasure. No copyright infringment is intended.