Dear Minot:
What freedoms are you thankful for on this Independence Day? The answer to that question will be different for all of us.
For some, it might be the freedom to practice their preferred religion. Or the freedom to choose where you want to live. Or the freedom to choose your professional career.
For others, it might be the simple freedoms we enjoy every day, and probably don’t even think about. Like the privilege of living in a country dedicated to maintaining freedoms large and small – from enjoying the ability to be part of a society that offers educational, professional, recreational, and personal opportunities unlike any other country in the world, and maintaining strong armed forces that not only protect our country and its residents, but are vital in protecting the delicate balance of peace worldwide.
The list of freedoms the United States offers today is seemingly endless. But our recent local election is a great way to highlight one of the most important freedoms that we enjoy – the right to free and open elections.
By now, we all know the details: We welcomed three new members to the City Council this week – Mike Blessum, Scott Samuelson, and Rob Fuller. All of them were elected by qualified voters of Minot on June 11. We also said goodbye to three outgoing City Council members – Scott Burlingame, Carrie Evans, and Stephen Podrygula. We thank them for their contributions to making Minot a great city, and we appreciate their willingness to sacrifice their personal time to serve their community.
But more important than who won the election is the very process itself. In Minot, N.D., no one worries that they’ll be denied access to exercise their constitutional right to vote, providing they’ve met the requirements established by our government. Yet, we know there are countries around the globe where free and open elections simply do not exist, and in other countries, the requirements are purposely strict to greatly limit the number of people who can vote.
Another key ingredient to our nation’s ongoing success was also on display at the July 1 Council meeting: the right to disagree with and to question the leaders of our local government. Political or civil dissent is not welcome or tolerated in countless countries, especially in public settings. But our nation was built on a foundation that includes the freedom of speech, even if that means disagreeing with government officials.
We know our nation remains a work in progress, even more than 200 years after the battles that led to the creation and approval of the Declaration of Independence. Our nation continues to evolve out of necessity.
We also know that freedom hasn’t been free. It was an idea formed by a hopeful and progressive group of our ancestors, who forged the greatest nation the world has ever seen. Centuries later, the words of George Washington still ring true: “Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant of rapid growth.”
Our freedom has continually been defended by the members of our armed forces, including the men and women of our very own Minot Air Force Base. Today, we salute their dedication and resilience, as they stand guard around the world to ensure we continue to enjoy the freedoms of our great nation.
Let’s all think about that for a moment today when we’re celebrating Independence Day in our own way. We must never forget those who paved the way for the litany of freedoms we enjoy today, and we must always strive to insure those freedoms endure for the generations that come after us.
Please join me in asking yourself this question today: What freedoms are you especially thankful for?
Have a happy and safe 4th of July.
You can find more about what’s happening at the City of Minot at minotnd.org, or find us on Facebook and Twitter. We’d also encourage you to sign up for our monthly electronic newsletter on our website.