A couple weeks ago my Facebook feed was lighting up with the “#Brexit” and a lot of my friends were talking about the vote which took place on June 23, 2016. I’ll admit I had no idea what they were talking about and why this event was so important.
For those not in the know, Brexit was vote by the British people to exit the European Union (EU), which the United Kingdom had been apart of since 1973.
In my research, I found the top five arguments for leaving the EU was 1. Control Immigration; 2. Make Britain Great Again; 3. Reject the Brussels bureaucrats; 4. Reject what the establishment wants; and 5. Lower prices (on food).
From what I gather from these five reasons can be combined into one word FREEDOM.
It sounds like a familar tale – we know about a group English Puritans who got on a boat named the The Mayflower in 1620 to set sail to a new land (America) in order to obtain freedom from British control. More specifically, the pilgrims wanted religous freedom.
The venture eventually led to the Revolutionary War in 1775 where men, women and children from 13 colonies of the “new land” sacrificed their lives in pursuit of that freedom. Then, on July 4, 1776, 56 delegates signed one of the most powerful documents ever written, The Declaration of Independence. This was America’s “Brexit.”
“We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”
Happy Birthday, America. Let Freedom Ring!