In between the picnics and the fireworks today, give some thought
to the basis of the holiday: the Continental Congress approving the Declaration
of Independence, authored by Mr. Jefferson of Virginia. It's one of the most beautiful pieces of writing you're going to find anywhere; concise but eloquent.
NPR has printed it for
you, but you can also listen to several of their reporters, newscasters and
commentators reading
it, and it's a document that cries out to be heard.
A beautifully-reasoned and eloquently-stated list of the reasons why--with reluctance—the British
colonies along the Atlantic coast feel they need to take the grave step of
breaking away from Mother England.
We recognize how serious a
move this is, it says; but, given the pattern of abuse by the British monarch,
we don't see any way out of it. We know it will cost us both blood and treasure,
but it's costing us more if we don't do it.
Here are a couple of
clauses that really strike to the heart:
"Governments are
instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the
governed."
"We, therefore, the
Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress,
Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our
intentions, do, in the Name, and by the Authority of the good People of these
Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of
Right ought to be Free and Independent States."
And—my very favorite of
all:
"And for the support
of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine
Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our
sacred Honor."
Imagine, if you will, the
current denizens of the US Capitol pledging their lives, their fortunes or
their honor to anything.
No, I didn't think so.
So go back to the original
and really listen. This is where we came from, and we should remember it.
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