Monday, July 4, 2011

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. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

4 comments:

  1. HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF
    It is so sad that we are seeing a slow repeat of the very tyranny that forced this declaration in the first place. The unelected unaccountable EU Commission seems to be determined to introduce direct taxation on the English public (and others). Wasn't "Taxation without Representation" one of the causes of the Declaration?

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  2. Since we are already paying part of our taxes over to the EU, direct taxation will be a very useful reminder to all of what the truth is. There will be no more possibility of fudge from the political classes. Well, less possibility. Therefore, I am in favour of it. The worse it is, the better it is.

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  3. What is the "pursuit of happiness"? Whatever it is, is it not covered by "liberty"?

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  4. It would have been embarrassing to have property instead of "pursuit..." since some of the "property" would have been the usurped liberty of bondmen. Samuel Johnson had something to say on the matter.

    Thanks for wishing us well, Helen, as anti-Americanism and Jew-hatred are more usual from the other side of the pond.

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