As I celebrate this very special American holiday, I love to review portions of the Declaration of Independence. It’s my favorite lesson to teach as well as my best way to commemorate our independence on the Fourth of July.
July 4 Reflections on Independence
This year, I reviewed my favorite phrases in the Declaration of Independence. Here’s just a few of them:
“…”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…” I love it that natural law and moral law entitle us to be free from tyranny. We the People have the right to chart our own course as a nation and to live in liberty under law. If we didn’t have a moral nation, we would have a constant barrage of man-made laws that we would have to follow. More laws equal less freedom. The laws of nature and nature’s God suffice as a moral code for a free people.
Reviewing the Declaration of Independence on Independence Day
“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.” All people throughout the ages instinctively know, according to the Declaration of Independence, that all humankind is created equal. They also know that we are not born equal, but we all have the right to life and freedom to make our own way in this nation. No one ever said this would be easy or free of cost and consequence. Just ask the signers of the Declaration of Independence. The Founders declared the truth that our rights come from God. Government does not have the right to take life, liberty, or property at a whim, since it did not create us or any of our unalienable rights. Government, our Founders basically declared, is not our Creator.
More Favorite Quotes from the Declaration of Independence
“And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.” And they did. Look up what happened to the Declaration’s signers after July 4, 1776. How many of us have the courage to keep a pledge as they did? How man of us are willing to stand up to the powerful for a cause greater than ourselves as the Signers did? It blows me away every time I think about the amount of courage, integrity, and rugged character of these men. See also: https://civicsandcitizenship.org/wp-admin/post.php?post=2598&action=edit
When I wish people a Happy Independence Day, they pause and seem to be speechless for a second or two. It’s almost like we have to be reminded of why we celebrate July 4! I hope you are able to review the Declaration of Independence as a part of your July 4 holiday weekend. Eternal vigilance (like reviewing the Declaration) is what will keep us free.
Happy Independence Day!
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