Notes for Reading the Declaration of Independence

[Crwth]

Independence day is fast approaching and for those who've made it a tradition to read the Declaration of Independence on July 4th (and you know who you are ), this article raises some - I believe - very good points to ponder in your reading.

I've read the Declaration many times, from grade school on, but when I first re-read it as an adult I was struck by the list of grievances and how... relevant they seemed even today. And (and this is one of the key points this author makes) the further you get into the list, the closer to today do the list of "injuries and usurpations" seem to strike.

Anyway, good points to ponder imvho - plus an encouragement to give the Declaration of Independence a read, again - remembering:

"...that the Declaration, together with the Constitution, evinces the genius of a free people—and that attempts to alter fundamentally our form of government will never go away. From King George to Woodrow Wilson to the current administration, no wonder they say eternal vigilance is the price of liberty."​

 

[wing2000]

"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."

...frankly, I'm beginning to think a lot my fellow Americans don't believe all Americans should have these rights. As I write this, the Senate minority leader is preparing to block debate of legislation that would address this very point.

 

[durangodawood]

"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."...

A very quotable lie. They in fact did not hold that at all. Perhaps some did, but not the collective "we".

Maybe "we should hold..." would have broken the rhythm?

 

[98cwitr]

"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."

...frankly, I'm beginning to think a lot my fellow Americans don't believe all Americans should have these rights. As I right this, the Senate minority leader is preparing to block debate of legislation that would address this very point.

John C. Calhoun certainly didn't:

Liberty, then, when forced on a people unfit for it, would, instead of a blessing, be a curse; as it would, in its reaction, lead directly to anarchy,—the greatest of all curses. No people, indeed, can long enjoy more liberty than that to which their situation and advanced intelligence and morals fairly entitle them. If more than this be allowed, they must soon fall into confusion and disorder,—to be followed, if not by anarchy and despotism, by a change to a form of government more simple and absolute; and, therefore, better suited to their condition. And hence, although it may be true, that a people may not have as much liberty as they are fairly entitled to, and are capable of enjoying,—yet the reverse is unquestionably true,—that no people can long possess more than they are fairly entitled to.

Yet we find in contrast during the same time period Andrew Jackson saying

 

[morningstar2651]

I love when NPR tweets the declaration of independence...