“We hold these truths to be self evident…”
It’s the Fourth of July, Independence Day in America. On this date 233 years ago, our forefathers declared to the world their intent to fight for a new form of government, one instituted by its citizens to secure equality and liberty for all.
Before you get caught up in the blind patriotism of red, white and booze, take a second and reflect on two sentences from the Declaration of Independence [Read the full text here]:
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. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,
Over the last 6 months, our government has denied equal rights to gays, instituted measures to spy on its own citizens, decided to hold suspects at Guantanamo indefinitely, and withheld photos that reveal evidence of torture.
Our country was founded on the idea that ALL men are created equal, not just white heterosexual men. It also says the government gets its powers from the CONSENT of the governed: you and me, not big corporations or lobbyists.
We can’t become complacent. We can’t sit idly by as our freedoms slowly disappear. We can’t allow inequality for any member of society. We also can’t expect someone to save us.
No matter how much you may love a politician, don’t just listen to words, watch their actions. Stay independent this Independence Day.
