[Biggirl]

Happy July 4th Free Republic!

[Big_Harry]

“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.”

Outside of scripture, no more beautiful words have ever been penned! Thank You for posting.

Happy Independence Day!

[P8riot]

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. —

[Paladin2]

"He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance. "

Sounds familiar.

[GRRRRR]

Jefferson was just 33 years old when he sat in a hot stuffy little room in Philadelphia and penned these words.

Draft after draft fell beneath his quill as he fought to get all his thoughts on parchment.

As a slave owner himself, with over 100 slaves, and as part of the American Aristocracy he was torn by the “All men are created equal” portion of the Declaration.

In the end, he included wording regarding the illegitimacy of slavery only to have it and over ninety other items removed from the text during review by the Continental Congress.

At the end, the document we have today was ratified with the signatures of men who pledged “their sacred honor” to Liberty. Those men willingly put themselves in danger of being hung for treason by the Crown.

Their great experiment continues today, however, the despots and tyrants persist in their attempts to threaten our LIBERTY.

[Diogenesis]

[imskylark]

Just read it to the family. My home schooled teens KNOW their American history. :-)