IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776
July 4th, 2008 at 12:01am Mark Noonan
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, 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, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
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.
These inspiring words are what it means to be an American. One can believe a lot of things, but unless one subscribes whole heartedly to every iota of our sublime Declaration, then one is not an American. Outside the bible, there are no words written by the hand of Man more valuable.
Entry Filed under: Holiday Observances, Patriotism
12 Comments
1. Freedom1 | July 4th, 2008 at 12:21 am
HAPPY 4th OF JULY! :)
GOD BLESS AMERICA!
2. Pain | July 4th, 2008 at 6:03 am
These are the words that are the bulwark against Theocracy. All men and women in America are free and have the right to pursue happiness within the codified laws local state and federal. Just as you have the right if offended by practice or action that is legal to seek to change that law. That is the beauty of the framing of this declaration and the eventual Constitution and Bill of Rights.
Often you have said Mark Noonan that the whim of society should not overpower tradition values. And yet you wish the whim of a minority that is free to practice and act as it pleases to demand the majority be held to a standard they cannot, do not and will not hold? We enjoin you to these words that are so powerful and resonate so far into the Universe and have fallen from the speaking centers of species on virtually all the Known Worlds and even in Hell as a prayer . . .
“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.”
Have a wonderful holiday.
Deçtini benejdixà d’Americu!
[Fates bless America!]
3. Kahn | July 4th, 2008 at 8:14 am
Yes Pain. And we have the right of armed revolt according to this document also. A right and a responsibility to abolish a government we find onerous. That’s the actual intention of the Second Amendment you know. To keep that option open.
4. Evergreen | July 4th, 2008 at 8:24 am
Deleted - off topic.
5. Pain | July 4th, 2008 at 8:58 am
3. Kahn | July 4th, 2008 at 8:14 am
And We agree.
6. FmrMarine | July 4th, 2008 at 9:56 am
Pain
Just like we can tell FOREIGN TROLLS like YOU to P!$$ OFF.
Happy Fourth of July all to all Americans who post here!
7. FmrMarine | July 4th, 2008 at 10:19 am
everjerk
>>>>n January 20th 2009 with Bush Jr back in Texas and Cheney removed from any Pentagon interference there will be a new birth of freedom in America.>>>
Spoken from where YOUR brain resides your A$$.
8. Mark Noonan | July 4th, 2008 at 10:25 am
Pain,
Just as long as you remember that it is God who endows us with these rights…you see, without God, you are absolutely nothing of any consequence…
9. FmrMarine | July 4th, 2008 at 10:39 am
Mark
BINGO right on target.
The pitchforkers troll here for that very reason to denigrate God, and our great nation.
They are blinded by their athiesim and unless they repent they will die in their hate and vitriol.
As for US
HAPPY BIRTHDAY USA ….”One Nation Under GOD” Christianitys GOD no other!
10. Pain | July 4th, 2008 at 10:48 am
8. Mark Noonan | July 4th, 2008 at 10:25 am
I choose to take a higher ground and say that your belief and Our belief can coexist and respect one another and that neither should have to be subjugated by the moral codes of the other. if this is possible We agree. if you feel that your Deity is above all others and We for not following your religion are “absolutely nothing of consequence” then you are eternally lost in hubris.
11. Fredrick Schwartz | July 4th, 2008 at 11:06 am
Let’s see on the issue of freedom and religion Fmr Marine I’m a Jew.
HRH Ang’ki Hoor I, Pain, Cavalor, Diane, Sarah, Lords Mandier and Cantharidin, 1-1-8 and Baton Rouge all follow the Hellac Fatean religion which is a quite a bit like Christianity without the sexual and economic guilt. There’s a lot of karma in that religion and it keeps you from doing something that has DIRECT consequences here in Hell.
Sese Omoko is an animist, I’m a Jew, Kelso’s a Jew just not religious, Hanratty is a Pentecostal, Sprague is an Southern Baptitst as is Polly Waggoner. Did I miss anyone? Oh yeah Robin Green is a Wiccan. Mencken is an atheist and Clark Clifford never tells anyone anything about his faith but I have seen him pray a time or two to whom or what I have no idea.
Religious freedom is as important here as it is in America. If we are against anything it is some Buddhist, Muslim or Jainist having to do something outside their own belief just as you would not want to have to pray to Allah or make hajj. What you take for being anti-religious is that we abhor religion being used as a tool to punish people who break no secular law.
Mark Noonan it’s not your job to judge other men’s souls because at the end of the day you could very well be wrong about everything you have been taught and it all could be a fairy tale told to kids to keep them from growing up to question the Divine Right and Power of Kings.
We have courts down here that do that just fine to the tune of 1.7 humans a second and we never lose a defendant and our night court is always open.
Make sure you have baking soda or a non water based extinguisher near your grill this year.
Have a wonderful 4th of July celebration.
G-d bless America.
12. FmrMarine | July 4th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
freddyputz
>>>Let’s see on the issue of freedom and religion Fmr Marine I’m a Jew.>>>
Gee ya think? Fredrick Schwartz from Brooklyn New Yaaaaark? LOL
any way freddy ole boy-Have a Happy fourth,
PS no matter what…..Thanks for serving OUR country.
Have a bagel and blitz on me! :)