How does it matter to us, the authors? Well, a number of ways. For one, as I wrote about on my personal blog today, the freedom to write, to publish, to enjoy reading what we like. If, that is, you are an American as I am. Other countries? Not so much. There’s a lengthy and sobering list of cases available at PEN International.

With that searing global contrast in mind, what can we as authors take from America’s founding? Well, countless stories have been woven from the turmoil, excitement, and terror of the Revolutionary War. Something I posted years ago, written by HL Mencken, resonates with me to this day, as well. The quote at the link ends with this:  “Great danger made something of them—danger of that sort which first teaches us to know our resources, our virtues, our shields and swords, our genius—which compels us to be strong.”

There’s a reason we so often choose to craft stories about times of great danger. The fires of conflict refine the hearts of men, and reveal their capacity, be that for great evil… or for the very best mankind is capable of. As storytellers, we yearn to portray this in tales, and we learn from it, when we read these stories. We are given models to look up to, when we read about the Founding Fathers and Mothers (Abigail Adams*, I’m giving you a nod and a smile). They risked everything for love of country, and the estimable among them are worth telling our children, the distant descendants of them in a way, about.

So it’s been done? Well, take it and give it a twist. Mencken’s not wrong about times of danger versus life under a liberty already won. Instead of writing about history, write about other worlds, science fiction or fantasy, or something in-between, using those exemplars laid out in our nation’s history. Ask yourself those scifictional questions “what if?” and answer “if this goes on…” Because my dear reader, if you aren’t American with the full freedom of speech protected as we have it, that may be the only way for you to explore the reality you live in, without the God-granted rights we’re assured.

For us Americans, we should be exploring those same questions because it’s only liberty if we can keep it. Benjamin Franklin’s succinct statement after the Signing contains so much we could unpack in story. “A republic, if you can keep it.” We must be constant in our understanding, in our pursuit of liberty. We have it. Let’s keep it.

*Side note that the Letters of John and Abigail Adams are only $1.99 and you should scoop them up for so many reasons. Pure romance, for one thing, without being saccharine.