As a teenager, July 4th has somewhat of a different meaning for me than it does for most adults.  The main focus of the day seems to be having barbeques, going for a swim, and watching fireworks light up the night sky to celebrate with family and friends the independence won by our founding fathers.  While I love these things as much as anyone (okay, maybe a little more than just anyone), for me there is another, important meaning hidden beneath the fireworks and celebrations:  There is a sense of the responsibility I and the rest of my generation carries to not only preserve the significance of Independence Day, but to renew that message each year with the promise that we will not allow this nation to ever return to the bondage we experienced under the British Crown— today through events and programs that lean toward socialism and government dependence.

I first got involved in politics after the 2008 election.  I saw how the youth blindly followed Obama’s message of “hope and change” and I felt the need to do something that could show other young people that the change they had been promised and the change they would receive were two very different outcomes.  I read about current events for two years before actually beginning my own blog, Next Generation Voters, and since then have written for many media outlets and worked on numerous campaigns.  I’ve had the opportunity to meet elected officials who have only encouraged my desire to get further involved.

I’m involved in politics because I believe our future is at stake in the next election.  If we continue down the path of destructive socialist policies Obama is implementing, America as we know it will disappear.  I believe we must replace the current administration with one that recognizes the freedom we were founded on and its crucial role in maintaining a free country.  Regardless of the fact that I can’t vote this year, I believe that every voice does make a difference.  We cannot win this year without the help of volunteers around the country, no matter their age.  If we don’t reverse the dangerous freedom-stealing policies that are in place very soon, it will be too late.  The risk is too great to ignore and not get involved.

Publisher's note.  We could not be more pleased to have this very bright young woman join our team, and we look forward to her insights and perspectives. 

David DiCrescenzo

I lost a close and dear friend in my thirties, gone too soon and early in this life I understood immediately how much I valued our times of great conversation, problem solving, shared dreams and the feeling of nothing was ever met alone.  My friend was always there, always with me and then suddenly she was gone.  While I could never replace our friendship, I have been fortunate to meet people whose trust and presence have been a similar relationship.

Some friendships last a lifetime, others are a period of time, but ever notice how even those brief encounters can pick up right where they left off and blossom again.  I have friends I can call at 3:00 a.m. and it's never an issue, friends I can share anything with and friends who know me and love me unconditionally.  Someone once said friends are the family we choose.  I like to think of my friends as family, and perhaps that comes from a lesson in my faith.  My grandfather as a minister called everyone by their name prefaced with the word brother or sister.  He had a collective family definition of friends as brothers and sisters in God's eyes.

After yesterday's ruling on SB 1070 by the Supreme Court I reflected on upholding the Federal Laws over the states legislation and I found this quote by Thomas Jefferson.

"The most sacred of the duties of a government [is] to do equal and impartial justice to all citizens."

What about non-citizens?  Now that we know without a doubt the Federal government is responsible for upholding the laws applicable to illegal immigration and the states rights are lessened by this ruling, I expect accountability to follow.  It's just my humble opinion, but if you own it then solve the problems and do so without bureaucratic failure.

For too long the Federal government wants to intrude in matters better left to the states, in this case I wonder what resolution will follow now that we know who is clearly defined as in charge of the enforcement of immigration laws?  Amnesty or accountability, let's hope they get it right.