'When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one People to dissolve the Political Bands which have connected them to another...' and so begins the document that was penned 234 years ago and was ratified by the Continental Congress on the fourth of July. Written by Thomas Jefferson with the assistance of John Adams and Benjamin Franklin, it is an amazing justification for the breaking of the political ties binding the colonies to Great Britain.
Notice the following key phrases:
all Men are created equal - no nation accepted that idea. Actually even in the United States that didn't become a reality for several decades.
endowed by their Creator - without the authority of almighty God the unalienable rights have no moral underpinning. If we lose the reverential respect the Founders held toward their Creator, we will soon lose the Republic they gave us.
the Pursuit of Happiness - there is no where a guarantee or right to happiness, nor does it say the government is to do all in its power to make us happy. As long as we do not interfere with others, we may pursue to be happy in whatever ways we believe we will attain it.
And may I say that the rights enshrined in the Declaration are given by God. There is so much talk today about 'human rights.' These rights are endowed, not by the Creator, but by the government. Whenever they offer a human right, they are taking away some of our liberty. Our politicians need to be reminded that our great nation was built by courageous men and women who desired to be free of government tyranny.
Though only 234 years old, young among the nations of the earth, may the experiment that is America play out for many years to come. So I say, Happy Birthday, America, may you have many more birthdays free from tyranny and oppression!
