Our Republic is preparing to celebrate our 226th national birthday. It is more meaningful, more somber, than previous celebrations. It is a determined America that comes together – an increasingly introspective America, awakening as if from a long sleep. It seems this year that America is taking stock of itself and, as a nation, should be less than pleased with the inventory list.

Last week, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the Pledge of Allegiance is unconstitutional because of the phrase "one nation, under God." The daughter of an opportunistic California atheist claimed that his daughter was damaged by being told America was a nation under God. He argued it violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

The First Amendment begins, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion". Dr. Michael Newdow argued that by including the generic phrase "under God," Congress was establishing religion. The 9th Circuit Court agreed, and ruled that no child within the nine western states over which it had jurisdiction could recite the phrase "under God." The court based its entire ruling on the first half of the first sentence of the First Amendment. That partial sentence is the closest the Constitution comes to separation of church and state.

(The phrase itself doesn't appear in the Founding Documents. Its champions give it Jeffersonian status since he used that phrase in an 1803 private letter.)

Ironically [or perhaps not], the ruling violated most of the remaining first sentence of the First Amendment, which states; "or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble."

The uproar was instantaneous, and bipartisan. Within hours, the Senate tabled the defense appropriations bill it was debating to pass a resolution condemning both the judges and the decision. Then they adjourned to the Capitol steps to recite the Pledge with special emphasis on the phrase, "one nation, under God."

The Congress was equally indignant; the president broke from the G-8 summit in Canada to denounce the ruling as "ridiculous."

As America takes stock of itself in advance of Independence Day, the ruling takes on special significance.

America based its Declaration of Independence on the existence of God. What governments grant, they can withdraw. Therefore, the Declaration specifically notes that our rights are granted by God.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

The Preamble demands for the colonists "the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them."

Rights granted by God can only be withdrawn by God. But if there is no God, who granted [and can therefore curtail or withdraw] those rights?

Celebrating America's independence while denying the existence of the Author of that independence is more than merely circular logic. It is a threat to our very existence. America cannot exist apart from God. That isn't a religious conclusion. It is a logical conclusion.

We invoke God's name to explain tragedy. Hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, pestilences – these are "acts of God." Read your insurance-policy disclaimer.

Independence, liberty, wealth, power – these, we claim as testimony to the power of the American people. [How come India isn't the global trendsetter? They're bigger, they've been around a lot longer, and they are also a democracy. And they're pretty smart, too.]

We deny God, forgetting why America is the most independent, free, rich and powerful nation on earth. On the 4th of July, we celebrate that Declaration of Independence.

This year, as we celebrate, every American is watching every other American's back. We're no longer free to assemble without some measure of fear. We are no longer independent of government protection from terrorists while we enjoy our pursuits of life, liberty and happiness. The right to publicly proclaim America "one nation under God" has been struck down by the courts.

Americans would do well to remember where our greatness comes from. It comes from the principles of the Declaration of Independence. Principles that – apart from the existence of God – have no author. With no author, they can have no binding authority.

Have a safe, happy and independent 4th of July. And God bless America.