IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
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.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government...
These are the words that started it all.
The greatest experiment that mankind had ever undertaken when it came to government.
It was a leap of faith that succeeded far beyond anyone's imagining.
They are words that are still important, still ring true.
They must be respected. They must be protected.
Happy 235th birthday, America.
4 comments:
Amen!
And, I'd like to point out that our founding fathers used such phrases as "In God We Trust" and "One nation, under God, indivisible"...it shocks me sometimes, how Americans have forgotten that. They seem to think it says, "Under Mohammmed we trust"...them's fighting words, I understand, but I just thought I'd exercise my freedom of speech here. If you don't mind.
Bellezza -
You're always free to do so here, doll. My only conditions are that a comment be relevant, civil, and not anonymous - nothing I've ever had to worry about with you.
Eugene, Oregon has decided they cannot recite the pledge before their council meetings because it's 'too divisive'.
NBC edit the phrase 'under God' out of the pledge on TV recently.
Time to remember what our Founding Fathers stood for and to remember that freedom of expression includes words like God.
cjh
To me, when Americans "forget" those words, or deem them unnecessary, we relinquish who we are and what we've always believed in. We leave the door open for another religion to come in and take over, thereby forfeiting our freedom. It terrifies me, if I were to be honest. I can see us someday, forbidden to worship as we see fit because we've embraced so much under the name of freedom that we've ultimately sacrificed it all.
Wow, the longer my comment became, the more I felt like I'm sermonizing. Not meaning to do that, only expressing my heartfelt concerns. And sorrow that Christianity seems to be disregarded in so many places.
I am just going to wish you a Happy 4th!
Post a Comment