To some reasonable people, New Hampshire independence sounds scary. The old saying, “a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush”, comes to mind. Something that hasn’t been done before strikes fear. However, this isn’t the first time independence has happened. Not even the first time this great state of our has done it. Some people may think, “Well that was over 200 years ago. That would never work now!”

Independence around the world is happening all the time. South Sudan just became independent as recently as 2011 and there have been 34 different nations created since 1990. In fact, since 1979 three nations peacefully became independent from the United States of America! (Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, and Palau).

Understandably, when calling for Independence, many Americans think that it will be violent. American independence from the British Empire in 1776, as well as Southern independence from Washington D.C. in 1861, resulted in violence. It doesn’t have to be this way. Recently, it hasn’t been violent. Since World War II, 30 newly created countries became independent with a referendum, in other words, no violence. 

What do these new nations have in common? The majority of the people in these regions felt that their larger parent state did not represent the values of their region. They stood up against it and took things into their own hands. Washington D.C. doesn’t represent us. The motto that New Hampshire holds dear, “Live free or die”, is deep rooted in the veins of the people that live and grew up here. It seems each and every day our values are being taken away. Let’s make a stand.