As I have written about countless times before, there have been many men and women who sacrificed so much for liberty, religion, and knowledge. These people didn’t care about the scolding and mocking they received, nor did they care that what they believed in, contradicted the things everyone had been taught to believe, these men and women were pioneers because they paved their own path, despite all their hardships. We hear of their stories, and admire their bravery, but do we ever think why they really did what they did or what they must have felt? It is true, in most circumstances they wanted freedom, whether it was freedom to worship how they wished, learn what they wanted to learn, or just have liberty in general; but they wanted this freedom, not just for themselves, but for us. These pioneers made all those sacrifices so we could receive the blessings that came from them. Algernon Sidney, who wrote Discourses Concerning Government, was given the choice to take back what he had written, or to be executed; he chose the latter and was beheaded. It is obvious he did not do so for himself, but because it was so important to him that others knew of the things he had written and that they would know of a surety they were true by his sacrifice. As I write each week, I try to look at the examples of these pioneers and know that even if we don’t get back our liberty in 10 years, or 50 years, or even in our lifetime, that one day those who come after us will receive the blessings of liberty, and that is worth it. Each of us has the opportunity to be pioneers, as our ancestors once were, and pave new paths so that our posterity will know, for a surety, of the truthfulness and importance of liberty by our examples. Today, as we think of their examples, I hope we can all fight for our freedoms as they did, and let their sacrifices not be in vain. 
Yours truly,

Publius

The world today seems to always focus on the negative. People look for every flaw, search for every excuse, and complain about every situation, but it is so important to take the time to think about all the good in your life and be grateful for it. No matter what situation you are in, no matter how devastating it may seem, there is always something to be grateful for. James E. Faust taught, “A grateful heart is a beginning of greatness. It is an expression of humility. It is a foundation for the development of such virtues as prayer, faith, courage, contentment, happiness, love, and well-being.” Once we recognize all we have, we can use our blessings as motivation to be better and inspire others to do the same. So, while it’s true, we do not have all the liberty we were meant to have, we still have freedoms and we need to work hard to preserve the ones we do have! Being grateful for those blessings means you care enough about them to take care of them. I urge you to take five minutes out of your day to think about all you have. Think of the people in your life who help you and comfort you, think about the knowledge you have access to, and think about the blessings you may have not even recognized before, then do all you can to protect and preserve them. Remember the words of Cicero, “Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.” Life is not easy, and it’s not meant to be, but there is always good and there is always light. I am so beyond grateful for those who have taught me so much, for the freedoms I have, and for the ability to fight for the freedoms we are meant to have. I know it is difficult, but by focusing on the light, we can make it through the dark. 

With reassurance and confidence,

Publius

Why do we do what we do? In life, why do we act? What leads us to our choices or our actions? As Trenchard and Gordon wrote, “necessity is the mother of invention…” We act because we need to. When holes open, people need to fill them. Inspiration can always be seen as a need. A need to write, a need to study, a need to learn, a need to speak up, a need to stand out. While there are obvious necessities around us, there are those you must find for yourself. What is necessary for you to do? If you look at your choices as necessities, it makes you think about your actions. Is what you are doing really important? What will it create? Find your own path by finding what you need to do. Remember that your actions will lead to something. Will that something fill up a hole or will it simply create a new one? Take the time to consider why it is that you are acting. Why do you do what you do? Is it necessary or are you giving someone else a reason to act?
Do what is necessary,
Publius

Tomorrow we will celebrate the day the Declaration of Independence was signed; the day the leaders from the united states of America officially announced they no longer wanted to be a part of a nation that was ruled by such a merciless tyrant. Now, we are taught that this was exactly what everyone wanted and that it was the sole purpose of fighting the War for Independence to begin with, but it is important to realize the war was not started with the intent of becoming independent, nor was that something everyone wanted. The war began so those living in the united states could take back their liberty and remind the tyrant they would not allow him to take it from them again. When they eventually realized he was not going to give them back what they desired, they decided the only solution was to separate themselves from the nation being governed by that tyrant. Trust me when I say this was not an easy thing for them to do. The wise men who took the initiative to do this knew they would have to sacrifice their money and time in order to make it work. If they could have, they would have been more than happy to stay in a position that gave them protection and already had an organized government, but not unless they had their freedoms. They cherished liberty in such a way that they were willing to sacrifice and endure so much, in order to protect it. As we celebrate Independence Day, I hope we will all remember the amazing men and women who cherished liberty to the point that they were willing to die for it. I hope we can all remember their sacrifices, and use them as motivation to take back what they fought for. Let us use this day as a reminder that we can all fight for liberty, as they did hundreds of years ago, and cherish it as they did. They fought so we could have liberty, and I believe they are still urging us to continue working to restore it today so what they fought for would not have been in vain. Independence Day, is a day we celebrate the freedoms we have, but please realize that unless we act now, the freedoms we do have will be taken away.

Yours truly,

Publius