Bradley Byrne: Honoring service to our country
On July 4th, 1776, the Continental Congress met in Philadelphia and officially adopted the Declaration of Independence. Signing this document was no easy task for the 56 signers. By lending their name to it, they were risking their personal safety, as well as that of their families. A number of the signers would also go on to serve in the Continental Army during the American Revolution. These days, we mark the Fourth of July with fireworks, trips to the beach, cookouts, and family vacations. These give us a wonderful opportunity to spend time with friends and loved ones, but I want to encourage you to also remember the sacrifice that led to the creation of our nation and the freedoms we hold dear. This includes the service of those who served in the military, from the Siege of Boston to the Battle of Gettysburg to the shores of Normandy to the mountains of Afghanistan. These individuals put their lives on the line in defense of the United States of America. The sacrifice also includes the efforts of leaders over the course of history, whether they be political leaders or civic leaders, who helped shape the course of American history. Individuals who made difficult decisions or stood up to the status quo. Individuals who put country over self. That record of leaders, service, and sacrifice lives on today in the individuals who chose to serve in the greatest fighting force the world has ever known – the United States military. One of my favorite parts of the job as Congressman is being able to nominate young men and women to attend one of our nation’s military service academies. The admission process to these academies require a nomination from a congressman, senator, the Vice President, or the President. I am thrilled to report that eleven young men and women from Southwest Alabama recently earned official appointments to U.S. service academies after receiving a nomination from my office. The students are: Joshua Andrews, from Davidson High School, received an official appointment to the United States Naval Academy. Jacob Dean Asher, from Bayside Academy, received an official appointment to the United States Naval Academy. Barry Booth, from Spanish Fort High School, received an official appointment to the United States Merchant Marine Academy. Keller Farni, from Murphy High School, received an official appointment to the United States Naval Academy. Phoebe Alexis Lee, from Mc-Gill Toolen Catholic High School, received an official appointment to the United States Military Academy. Triston-Norman Marasco, from Spanish Fort High School, received an official appointment to the United States Naval Academy. Jamie Martin, a homeschool student from Foley, received an official appointment to the United States Air Force Academy. Sarah Morris, from UMS-Wright Preparatory School, received an official appointment to the United States Naval Academy. Marshall Peyton Spires, from St. Paul’s Episcopal School, received an official appointment to the United States Air Force Academy. Joshua Tarr, from Gulf Shores High School, received an official appointment to the United States Merchant Marine Academy. Gracie Whiston, from St. Paul’s Episcopal School, received a Presidential appointment to the United States Air Force Academy. These individuals from Southwest Alabama represent our country’s future military leaders, and there are undoubtedly other individuals from our area who will go on to serve as leaders in their own respective fields. So, as we celebrate the founding of our nation, may we take time to reflect on the individuals – past and present– who have sacrificed and served our country. May we never forget the role they played in the American story. Just as important, may we also realize the American Story is still being written each and every day. • • • Bradley Byrne is a member of U.S. Congress representing Alabama’s 1st Congressional District.
Bradley Byrne: The American story
This week, we celebrate the birth of our nation. In addition to spending time with family and friends, I hope you also took time to reflect on exactly what it is that we celebrate on the Fourth of July. In 1776, some very brave men put their signatures on a piece of paper that not only declared independence from Great Britain, but also declared the essential values that make us Americans. These values include the frank statement that we are all created by God as equally important people; that we have rights given to us by God which can’t be taken away, like the rights to our lives, our individual liberties and our individual pursuits of what makes us happy. And our government exists to protect these rights. Indeed, our government only has the powers which we the people consent to give it. These values have helped our nation through the good and the bad during the course of the American story. You see, we Americans are too often forgetful of our own history. If we remembered it better, we would know of the terrible difficulties faced by our forebears and the wisdom and fortitude they demonstrated in overcoming their challenges every time. Looking back on our history should make us optimistic about our future. Don’t get me wrong, the challenges of today are very serious. Our economy continues to struggle. We face a range of serious threats to our safety and security, including the threat of terrorism. Our country is deeply polarized both politically and morally. There is great dissatisfaction with government in general. But, by looking back on our history, I think you can take comfort in knowing the challenges of today are all things that can be overcome. It just requires courage, determination, and a belief in the fact tomorrow can, and will, be better than today. Think about where our country would be if George Washington had not led those troops across the Delaware River in 1776 to defeat the British at the Battle of Trenton. One can’t help but wonder if our nation would have been able to continue without the leadership of President Abraham Lincoln at a time when our country was literally at war with itself. What would the United States look like today if the brave men of the Greatest Generation had not stormed the beaches of Normandy in 1944? Imagine if Rosa Parks had thought it would be too hard to stay in her seat on that bus in Montgomery in 1955. What would have happened if Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin had been too afraid to take those first steps on the moon in 1969? What if the first responders on Sept. 11, 2001 had turned and run away from the fire instead of running straight into danger? You see, a quick glance back through our history is a strong reminder of the challenges our nation has faced, but, more importantly, of the determination, courage, and devotion of the American people. So, do not give up on the American dream. Do not back down from the challenges of today. Do not let anyone tell you our country’s best days are in the past. This week, as we celebrate our birth, let us renew the promise made by our forefathers to one another and mutually pledge our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor. And let us look to the future with determination and confidence. • • • Bradley Byrne is a member of U.S. Congress representing Alabama’s 1st Congressional District.
Mitt Romney hosts holiday sleepover with Chris Christie, Marco Rubio
2012 GOP nominee Mitt Romney will be hosting two rival Republican presidential contenders at a holiday sleepover Friday evening. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio will both be staying over at Romney’s property in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, an aide to Romney confirmed. The aide, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of what the aide called the private nature of the event, said the former governor and his wife opened their home to the Christie and Rubio families after hearing they would be in town for the holiday weekend. Both candidates are scheduled to march in Wolfeboro’s Fourth of July parade. Christie, who formally jumped into the race this week, told reporters in New Hampshire Friday that he was grateful for the invitation. “I suspect there might be a little politics discussed tonight with Mitt and Ann, but me and Mary Pat, and Andrew and Sarah are really happy that Mitt and Ann invited us to stay with them tonight,” he said, according to video posted by NJ.com. A Rubio spokesman declined to comment. Romney had considered another run for president in 2016, but announced in January that he’d decided against it. His endorsement is now coveted. The Washington Post reported Friday night that Romney would meet next week with former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, another GOP contender, at the Bush family compound in Kennebunkport, Maine. Christie was a top surrogate for Romney’s 2012 campaign and was considered a potential vice presidential contender. But he continues to receive heat in some Republican circles for leaving the trail and embracing President Barack Obama after New Jersey was hit by Superstorm Sandy just before the election. Christie’s campaign also announced some of its top staffers Friday. The campaign will be managed by Ken McKay, who formerly worked for the Republican National Committee and Republican Governors Association. Republished with permission of the Associated Press.
Katherine Robertson: Reflections on freedom as Independence Day approaches
Raised to love my country and our flag, and because it’s reserved for time with my family, the Fourth of July is a day that I look forward to from the very first signs of summer. For me, at least, I sense that this year will somewhat bittersweet. When we celebrate America’s independence, we necessarily celebrate freedom — unprecedented and unmatched by any other nation. For the first time in my life, I fear that my own freedom might actually be at stake. As the left tirelessly labels as hateful anyone expressing the slightest disappointment over the Court’s ruling on marriage, any objective constitutional scholar has to admit that this decision goes well beyond the simple act of requiring that marriage licenses be issued to any couple who seeks them. Rather, it tips the scales of justice against one of our nation’s foremost freedoms: the free exercise of religion. As you have likely read and heard numerous times over the weekend, the court has designated the right to marry as one that is “fundamental.” Assigning that status to same-sex marriage places it on equal footing with the free exercise of religion, a freedom enumerated in the First Amendment. Such a designation for same-sex marriage has vast implications, of course, for anyone with a religious objection to it. Precedent dictates that government action may limit a fundamental right if the action promotes a compelling or overriding state interest. Sadly, the court made no effort in last week’s decision to assure the protection of religious liberty in the face of this new state interest in same-sex marriage. The majority writes, “[m]any who deem same-sex marriage to be wrong reach that conclusion based on decent and honorable religious or philosophical premises, and neither they nor their beliefs are disparaged here. But (emphasis mine) when that sincere, personal opposition becomes enacted law and public policy, the necessary consequence is to put the imprimatur of the State itself on an exclusion that soon demeans or stigmatizes those whose own liberty is then denied.” In other words, if exercising your First Amendment rights, including that of religion, is interpreted as demeaning the fundamental right to a same-sex marriage, then your religious right will be deemed inferior. To that end, Justice Samuel Alito did not mince words: “[The decision] will be used to vilify Americans who are unwilling to assent to the new orthodoxy. In the courts of its opinion, the majority compares traditional marriage laws to laws that denied equal treatment for African-Americans and women. The implications of this analogy will be exploited by those who are determined to stamp out every vestige of dissent.” Justice Clarence Thomas similarly opined, “[i]t appears all but inevitable that the two [rights] will come into conflict, particularly as individuals and churches are confronted with demands to participate in and endorse [same-sex marriages]. The majority appears unmoved by that inevitably.” This new, very real threat to our previously taken-for-granted freedoms will have one of two effects on those who revere the First Amendment. Some may decide that the current is just too strong, the left’s talking points too convincing, and that a strict adherence to the Constitution or our own religious beliefs is no longer feasible. On the other hand, and hopefully more likely, others will awaken from complacency. They will choose to be more intentional about who they allow to influence their stances, more confident in their convictions, and more thoughtful in how they go about expressing them. As renowned legal scholar, Judge Robert Bork, wrote in 1993, “[i]n our current culture wars, perhaps the most important of the virtues for conservatives is fortitude — the courage to take stands that are not immediately popular, the courage to ignore the opinion polls. Otherwise, we will never change the polls. That is what true conservatism means, or it means nothing.” This Independence Day, let’s reflect on the fortitude of the generations before us who fought for our freedoms and refuse to be the apathetic generation that lets them slip away. Katherine Robertson is vice president for the Alabama Policy Institute (API), a nonprofit research and education organization dedicated to the preservation of free markets, limited government and strong families.
