With Independence Day upon us, we should take some time to reflect on what the day celebrates, and the brave men who launched our great nation and outlined the principles that still guide our nation today through the Declaration of Independence.
The 56 men who signed their name this Declaration knew it would be read not just by fellow colonists seeking freedom, but by those against whom they were waging war. Meaning, they would risk torture, death, and leave their families penniless should they fail. This gives profound weight to the final sentence of the Declaration, directly preceding their signatures.
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.
It is incredible how our Founding Fathers encapsulated the core ideals of America in this one sentence: all of us are created equal in the eyes of God, endowed by Him with rights including to life and liberty, with legitimate government power requiring the consent of the people.
But as these words were written, our nation was violating those very truths; most brazenly through the poisonous scourge of slavery and the numerous inequalities women faced. For centuries activists and politicians would strive to get us closer to truly living up to these ideals. In our country’s short 247 years, we have made significant progress in becoming a better and stronger nation.
However you celebrate this July 4th, I hope it is festive, joyous, and worthy of the event and the document we are celebrating. And be grateful that the Founders launched a nation that continues to be a beacon of freedom, and a place where we continue to strive to fulfill the promise of the Declaration of Independence.
