Letter to the editor: America needs unity, not protest

With the Fourth of July approaching, I wanted to reflect on the recent “No Kings” protest. Within our country, thousands of people protested President Trump and his policies, implying he is a tyrannical king. This is flawed. America has not been ruled by a king since July 2, 1776.

An experiment took place 249 years ago to ensure that tyrannical government was no more. A group of intellectual and complex men took the risk of politically revolting against their sacred king. In their hearts and minds, the actions of King George and his Parliament were unnatural. As Ben Franklin once said, “our cause is the cause of all mankind … we are fighting for their liberty in defending our own.”

The levying of taxes without the consent of the governed, unlawful trials, quartering of troops without consent. Through their blood and sacrifice our rights and new government were forged. Although there were limitations due to the culture, their governmental experiment has stood the test of American time. The right to question your government, to bear arms, to hold fair trials and so much more were constructed by our founders to ensure our freedom.

So, while those call for silent opposition on the Fourth, I ask you this: The rights you claim to have lost, where have they gone and who took them? Instead of dividing and protesting, I call for unity. We are all Americans, and we all share the same rights and privileges.

Ashton Caldwell

Cheswick