By John R. Ammon

Written by John R. Ammon

Estimated Reading Time: 2 minutes

On Saturday, June 14th, The Prickly Pear will take part in the Flag Day celebration at the Yavapai County Courthouse Plaza in the great American city of Prescott, Arizona. In addition to celebrating our beloved American Flag, the day is also marked by the 250th anniversary of the United States Army and President Donald Trump’s birthday. There is so much in this wonderful Prescott event to be grateful for and proud of.

The Prickly Pear is honored by the  invitation to be one of four speakers at the Flag Day celebration at the Town Square on June 14th. As co-editor of The Prickly Pear, the opportunity to speak, publish and write the information, commentary, and news to honestly inform, educate, and advocate for our many readers about the greatness of our Republic and the threats it faces has a direct link to the beautiful flag we call Old Glory. This link is called liberty. It is called free speech. It is called the exercise of our First Amendment. It is about our freedom (and the responsibilities concurrent to our freedom.) These are  embodied in the magnificent flag we call our own and for which many brave Americans have fought for and have made the ultimate or very costly sacrifices to defend and preserve.

The founding of the American Republic had a uniquely distinguishing feature from all other governments throughout history that accounts for our liberties, our opportunities, and our prosperity and incredible progress in a mere 250 years. Our great Founders launched our new nation with a  profoundly consequential feature – that the individual (yes, each U.S. citizen) is the sovereign entity in our country. Not the government, not the politicians, not the wealthy and not the elite.

The first three words of the United Constitution are ‘We the People’ – the people are sovereign and we consent to be governed. Government is divided as it must be to avoid the consolidation of power among a small group. The Constitution is the law of the land and guides the governing principles and limits of how ‘We the People’ are governed, always by our consent.

In 1981, W. Leon Skousen published The Five Thousand Year Leap: 28 Great Ideas That Changed the World. Skousen recognized the power of a nation filled with citizens who are sovereign and are governed by their consent, unleashed from the control of governments and ruling classes that had all the sovereignty and accompanied power throughout human history. In 200 years, the miracle of America advanced civilization and the quality of life throughout the world by 5,000 years – a truly incredible ‘leap’ historically and practically for the human race.

I think of all the above each time I see an American flag displayed. I don’t hesitate to put my hand on my heart each time I pass Old Glory and always thank the Lord for the blessing of being an American citizen. Flag Day is a day to truly celebrate this blessing and the liberty, the quality of life and the prosperity America has granted each of us and much of humanity. Please join us at the Yavapai County Courthouse Plaza on Saturday, June 14 in Prescott to celebrate our great nation and our beautiful flag.

 

 

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