July 4, 1776

 

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.  Click here for the full text.

Two hundred and thirty-three years ago fifty-six brave men signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that they might be signing their own death warrants.  In fact, several of them were killed.  Some lost family members, some lost all their property.  But not one of them, even under threat of death, ever recanted or disavowed the Declaration.

Notice, too, that the writers included references to God twice in this introduction and that the document did not demand man-made rights.  All they were asking for were  rights that were ” endowed by the Creator”. 

History tells us that this “grand experiment” was successful, at least so far.  But 233 years is a blink of an eye in the history of the world.  Great nations have come and gone.  All men and women of good will must work together to maintain freedom for all.

Here in America, July 4th, Independence Day, is a time to reflect on just where we started, where we’ve come, and where we want to be in another two centuries.

Rush Limbaugh, Jr. (No, not THAT Rush Limbaugh.  This is his dad.) gave an excellent speech on the signers of the Declaration of Independence, called “The Americans Who Risked Everything“.  It’s worth a look, even for our non-American friends.  It puts a lot of things in context.

GOD BLESS AMERICA!