TUESDAY, JULY 4TH, 2023 DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

 TUESDAY, JULY 4, 2023 - 247TH YEAR OF THE UNITED STATES

From the Declaration of Independence - July 4, 1776

“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”.

In 1776 these were radical statements.  ALL MEN created equal?  No way.  The big powers in Europe were England, France, and Spain.  They all had kings.  And no king would ever say ALL men are created equally.  (Kings say they had a “divine right” to be rulers).

If we extend the “MEN” to be “ALL PEOPLE” are created equal.  Men and women?  Equal?  Ha!!

Of course, that statement that “All men are created equal” didn’t even exist in the Colonies.  The only ones who could vote were landowners.  But … there it is - ALL MEN.

That sure set the stage for the future.  France followed in the 1790s with the French Revolution - Liberty, Equality, Fraternity.  

It has taken time and isn’t finished.  The United States had slaves until 1865.  Women couldn’t vote until 1919.  Over these 247 years lots of battles have occurred when talking about equality.  

But inside the minds and hearts of people around the world in the knowledge that in the United States such equality is proclaimed.  Why are there thousands of people on our southern border wanting to get into the United States?  Because they heard the message that “All men are created equal”.

(Of course, there could be a debate on whether that is still true.  It seems like there is a sorting process at the border denying entry to some that aren’t quite equal!!  And, many states are declaring that women still aren’t created equal and do not have the common sense to control their bodies.  And that (gasp) men or women in same sex relationships are not equal.  

But, there is still some progress being made - the sign as the border that says “All Men Are Created Equal” stands - maybe the sign needs new paint, maybe others already in the United States need to reread that sign.)

The New Colossus - the inscription on the Statue of Liberty:

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,

With conquering limbs astride from land to land;

Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand

A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame

Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name

Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand

Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command

The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she

With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

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Part II

“that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness”.

A couple of things about this statement from the Declaration of Independence.

First “they are endowed by their Creator”.  Is that a Christian Creator?  A Hindu Creator?  A Buddhist Creator?  It isn’t specified.  “Their Creator”!!

But that is an acknowledgement that there seems to be a divine creator - a “Force”, an infinite being.  There is a “God” of some nature.  In the Judeo-Christian view, there is an acknowledgement that “"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Beyond our comprehension there is an infinite, divine, all-knowing, all-loving Creator.  

*****

And finally - unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness”.

Unalienable (or inalienable) rights - rights that cannot be given away or taken away.

The government cannot take away our right to LIFE (and yet it does).

The government cannot take away our right to LIBERTY (and yet it does)

The government cannot take away our right to pursue HAPPINESS (and yet it does)

There are millions of people in American prisons who have violated other people’s rights.  Maybe they killed somebody, and a jury of their peers determined that they took away the life of another human being - and therefore they have lost this right to LIBERTY.  

Some of those prisoners have committed heinous crimes and the government - through a jury of their peers - has determined that they have lost their right to LIFE - and thus those prisoners get a “death penalty”.  Or, in reality, they have lost their rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  (At this writing 27 States have “Capital Punishment” - or the “Death Penalty” for such terrible crimes.)

***

In particular, the third right - the PURSUIT of HAPPINESS is interesting.  

To me, happiness is a thinking function - We can CHOOSE to be happy.  

Some people seem to choose to be unhappy - and others choose to be happy.  Some people who are rich are miserable while some poor people are happy.  (And vice versa).  

How can we choose to be happy?  That is a personal decision.  

And that will be the topic for tomorrow’s blog!!!

LOVE WINS

LOVE TRANSFORMS

GOD IS LOVE

KAREN ANNE WHITE, © JULY 4TH, 2023