Hello readers: While exercising my right not to speak for a few days, a friend gently reminded me that something had to be said at this time. So, I am much obliged to write, in anticipation and coordination with one of the most fantastic national celebrations that the USA still fortunately partake in most willingly… this week. That is centered, on Independence Day.

Yes, setting off fireworks is not only a way to bring amazement to the human senses with visually stunning physics, a mock setting of “bombs bursting in air”, and a release of emotional anxieties, coupled with celebration and memory of freedom from tyranny. Yes, in 1776, it was the embarking into freedom from Britain. But, today, it is still a commemoration of all those who died in our war to gain independence and to secure liberty through Constitutional law for all those who hold it dear still.

But, freedom is fragile – it is threatened by extreme and hostile intent of some to dominate over and to limit that freedom which we rightly exercise today. CatholicVote organization, has this week quoted its concerns over the modern “civil war” – which it testify had recently been displayed in our country lately, as follows: “radical far left [had assembled to] stage violent protests all across the country. They [have silenced] conservative speakers. Protesting any and all of President Trump’s initiatives… [they have] masqueraded as voters and disrupted town hall meetings across the country… fomenting riots and promoting anarchy… attacking police and firefighters.”  This is what is referred to as evidence of today’s “civil war” in which another author (Mr. Greenfield) characterize the intentions of discord led by persons… one being “Ms. Hillary Clinton” and “Democratic Party leaders” according to Brian Burch – president and contributing author of “The Catholic Voter”. His (Mr. Greenfield’s) article, can be found at: www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/266197/civil-war-here-daniel-greenfield  . This article might be his declaration; but, rather than declare it along with him, simply read it and find out how credible YOU think it is. Reading material, reflecting on it, and studying it, is a cornerstone of preserving liberty in America. You should read before, during, and through all of your life.

Now, I’ve written before on the roles of men and women in family. And Brian has written about our blessed Queen of Heaven and Earth. I’d like to dove-tail that with the reason we celebrate this holiday on July 4th, and gender issues today. How do gender roles fit in to concepts of liberty? Well (put most simply) liberty is best in tact and preserved when we each aspire; fighting also to live out the virtues endowed upon us by our Creator. I’ve commented before to you, on how it is true that many contemporary women have embraced professional life. I still assert that woman should not be “saddled” to kitchen and laundry room unless she choose that as worthy labor (which it is also). Many of Catholic women throughout our nation’s history, have lived emblematically; also in truth and practice, as hard-working professionals and in vocation… some even arriving at sainthood and/or martyrdom. These women are in the American “fabric” and history both old and contemporary. They deserve every praise that we can give them! The wives of American pioneers are another example of brave-heart and strength of spirit in female. This brings us to virtue. Some virtues among many, such as patience, humility, and devotion. Every woman has a shared obligation to preserve liberty. While it is not wrong for a woman to aspire and to achieve in a contemporary monetary way, personal financial gain should be secondary motivation. If she is charitable, she is doing good work and God is pleased by that.

All too often today, our young women are led to a path of utter servitude to man; or, unrestrained personal ambition. We have witnessed “trail-blazers” of every extreme, and the effects their choices have upon men at large, were not always healthy ones in such instances. It is your decision how deeply to heed any example, and it is not my place to condemn ambitious women. But, together, we can determine how best to maintain virtue among the masses.

Being a woman, should be about sacrificing for the sake of child and family, or worship of God Himself. If we accept that Jesus Christ is/was/and always will be the quintessential “son of man”, and that is true, then also true… the ideal woman, is/was/and always will be our Virgin Mary “Mother of God”.

Every one of us, was created in God’s image. And so, each of us is worthy of our genetic expression, living free, and living in our pursuit of fulfillment, in the ways we are taught in the Gospel. Young men and young women, children, we all have two ideal role models: Christ and Mary. These are the supreme role models. It has less to do with what kind of labor we do, and much more about the virtues we carry into that labor. Hence, the ideal female… the ideal of mother… the ideal of woman-hood, is all based on virtue.

This is why man and woman, should not be opposed to one another. We should not compete against one another. We should rather cooperate, based on the principles that are exemplified by people who have the common goal of preserving liberty and justice (among other virtues, that center on preservation of family, as opposed to the nurturing of unhealthy levels of competition and hatred). So this Independence Day, let us be mindful of how man and woman should be to one another, and let us encourage a norm – the development of virtuous men and women. And, let us discourage anything less than that. Then we can foster true Independence that does not do without the unity of man and woman in their cooperation.