Ehrlich on Washington column, July 6, 1997

< 1 407 York Road, Suite 304 Lutherville, Maryland 2 1 093 MEWS FROM Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. Second Congressional District of Maryland 315 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 EHRLICH ON WASHINGTON By Congressman Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. Week of July 6, 1997 THOUGHTS ON JULY 4, 1997 Recently the United States celebrated freedom, democracy, and independence during traditional Fourth of July festivities. As citizens, we had the opportunity to attend parades, visit family and friends at picnics, and celebrate the day in a mix of red, white, and blue. When the day wound to a close, fireworks lit up the skies, a final reminder of the day and its special meaning for our country. Last week, fireworks ignited more skies than our own. At midnight on July 1 , Hong Kong was officially turned over to the People’s Republic of China, after a 156 year reign held by Great Britain. Amidst a flurry of mixed opinions -- some of celebration, others of anxiety and fear — power over Hong Kong was transferred from our nation’s staunchest ally to America’s largest remaining adversary. As Americans, we can be confident in our basic freedoms -- our country was founded on life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We are, in fact, so confident in our freedoms that we tend to take them for granted unless other issues surface which make us realize how lucky we are to be secure in our lives. Last Monday, it was a poignant moment to watch the Union Jack lowered for the last time in Hong Kong. And although the street scenes showed the masses of people celebrating, leaders such as Martin Lee, the democratic activist I met in Hong Kong last