On April 19, two hundred fifty years ago, the American Revolution officially began when colonists fired on British soldiers at Lexington and Concord. The stories of who actually started the forays vary depending on what side of the disagreement the eye witnesses fell. Despite the uncertainty there seemed to be no turning back as members of the thirteen colonies felt they had enough of the erratic and often unfair behavior of the King of England. 

Not every colonist agreed with the idea of fighting for freedom. Some of my husband’s ancestors fled to Newfoundland for the duration of of the war that would ensue. My folks who were here took part in the battles. Captain Thomas Smith, my grandfather many times removed, represented the colony of Virginia along with his brother who ended up being a Colonel in George Washington’s army. The Rowsey family line also sent willing soldiers into battle. From those two lines would come my great grandfather and grandmother, John William Seth Smith and Cristina Rowsey, parents of my grandmother Minnie Bell. 

The shot heard round the world would end with a fledging nation defeating one of the greatest armies in the world to the awe of onlookers back in Europe. The creation of a democratic republic was a grand experiment that many people did not believe would last. The betting minds felt certain that the government of the people would be little more than a flash in the pan. 

Of course we know that things did not always go smoothly nor was the democracy open to every citizen of the new nation. It would not be until the late nineteen sixties that forced segregation would be a thing of the past and voting rights laws would protect all members of the United States. It had been a long road in that direction moving from only white men with property to Black men able to pay a poll tax to women finally being accepted as legitimate voters to finally outlawing practices that prevented all citizens eighteen years and older from registering their votes.

Of course there are still nasty tactics designed to suppress the votes of many Americans. We are yet to fulfill the ideal promises of our nation which is still in its infancy compared to many countries around the globe. The cracks and imperfections have become particularly visible of late with a president who seems to think that he can undo laws and create new rules with the stroke of a pen. In many ways he has resurrected the specter of a king complete with claims that he was sent by God to save us. 

I am truly worried about the future of our nation now that many of the expected duties of the three branches of government are being coopted by the current chief executive. There is a blurring of the separation of church and state that is concerning as well. In addition an entire political party seems intent on taxing the common man while exempting the richest people in our nation. Thoughts of taxation without representation are filling my mind and making me clearly understand what my ancestors of long ago believed was a cause worth fighting for. 

I have protested with my writing and sometimes even with organized groups. I still seem to have the freedom to do those things but it sometimes feels as though measures are being taken to silence those of us who are still speaking out. The threats and warnings are out there and many Americans have gone silent in response. I don’t blame them because they have families and jobs that they do not want to jeopardize. I am older like Benjamin Franklin was in 1775. I have far less to lose by taking chances. Still I worry that the time may come when compliance will be mandatory and I wonder if there will still be brave souls like the patriots of 1775 who ignore the threats to save our nation from authoritarians. 

There are good decent Americans bravely attempting to preserve our freedoms and our Constitution. Some of them are politicians, some are journalists, some are lawyers, some are ministers, some are everyday men and women who have decided to keep our right to speak and to protest alive even if it becomes dangerous. They are the modern day heroes whose love of our country is so intense that they refuse to allow one man or one group to tread on the liberty and sacrifice of the defenders of our nation from 1775 to the present.

I suppose that freedom is priceless but still demands that we work hard to keep it. Our nation has weathered a second war with England, a Civil War, World War I, World War II, and other battles and always comes together to keep the dream of our founders improving and becoming closer and closer to the ideal. I don’t want to think that we will only be able to keep it for two hundred fifty years. It is far too precious to give up now or ever.