America calls its national holiday Independence Day. The word was meant to describe not only the nation but, even more importantly, its people. So here is a question for July Fourth:

We are the people who accepted every contradictory pronouncement from Dr. Fauci. We are the people who meekly acquiesced to 1½ years of lockdowns, business closures, and job losses. We are the people who agreed to forego church services, even outdoors. We are the people who yelled and cursed at someone jogging alone in a park because he was maskless. Whom did we believe he could infect? The trees? The squirrels?

My question is this: Are we the people who defended Concord Bridge from British troops sent to disarm us? Are we the people who withstood Pickett’s Charge at Gettysburg? Are we the people who fought through Belleau Wood, stormed Omaha Beach, and raised the flag on Iwo Jima? Are we the people who survived freezing cold at the Chosin Reservoir and burning heat in the Iraqi desert?

Are we the people who know all too well that freedom has a price, which sometimes can be paid in money and sweat, but sometimes must be paid in blood? Or are we the people walking alone outside, dutifully wearing our masks so as not to appear disrespectful of authority?

That is my question for Independence Day.

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