The Declaration of
Independence History
If - you had to think
of one document other than the Bible that people can most easily quote almost
without thinking about it, that one document would be the Declaration of
Independence. The comparison to the
Bible is apt. Not that the Declaration
of Independence is holy in a religious sense of - the word. But it has a place of reverence in the hearts
of the American people and in the history of the founding of this great nation.
While not the first
words of the Declaration of - Independence, these stirring words have that kind
of - prophetic power that anyone who hears them in immediately inspired by the beauty,
the poetry and the deep truths that were so beautifully expressed in that
historic document.
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.
This one statement
from that famous declaration so beautifully demonstrates some core principles
that show why this document has such a deep impact on the American mind and
heart. The statement that the truths in
this document were indeed truths is a profound statement in its own right. The Declaration of - Independence does that
suggest that what is being declared in those pages are theories, possibilities,
even political ideology.
These are truths
which puts them on the same value as statements of values as often taught in a
religious setting. Truths are eternal
values and values that are not changed by circumstances, by whomever or
whatever is handling the government of - the land or by the whim of - lawmakers. These truths exist above
those temporal earthly ideas and live on that plain of the eternal.
“Self evident” is a
powerful phrase and it reflects on the founder’s belief in what was called
natural law. Natural law is the belief
system that there are laws that are part of our natural state of - existence and
that they cannot be taken away (inalienable).
These laws are our rights as creations of - the almighty and any
government system must recognize these laws because they are above
government. It is a basic belief system
of - the American system that ALL people are entitled to these rights and that
they cannot be taken away.
The mention of - a
creator in the declaration of independence is very important because there are
those who would maintain that the separation of church and state tells us that
the government is at heart a secular institution. Clearly the founders did not lay the
foundation of - our country on that groundwork.
They saw the inheritance we as Americans have in our rights and freedoms
to be part of - our legacy from God and as such, above the government and
something the government must back off and leave alone as well as prettiest and
defend.
The Declaration of
Independence is truly an amazing document especially when you consider the
“primitive” state of the nation when it was written by Thomas Jefferson and
signed on July 2, 1776 to become the backbone of - our American system of
government. It became an often
referenced and quoted document, even becoming a part of President Lincoln’s
famous inaugural speech when he said with such deep conviction…
Four score and seven years ago our fathers
brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and
dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal."
Because these words
are such a deep part of - our American heritage, American history and the
American spirit, they are often a crucial center part of any study of history
in the schools in this country. That is
why school children in every state are so familiar with these words.
But it would do us
all well to take some time once a year or so and take our copy of - the
Declaration of Independence and read it either as a private moment of
reflection nor with our families. What a
wonderful fourth of - July tradition that would make. Then as you watch the fireworks celebrating
the birth of the country and its independence, you will have those words fresh
in your heart to remind you that it was our creator that gave us our freedoms
and independence and nobody has the right to ever take them away.
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