As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, which states why the Thirteen Colonies regarded themselves as independent sovereign states no longer subject to British colonial rule, it is vital that we appreciate the freedoms afforded to each American.
As scripted by Thomas Jefferson in only 17 days:
“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 a 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.”
Our Declaration of Independence has become one of the most circulated and influential documents in history, and since 1776, approximately 120 declarations have been drafted by different countries and individuals.
Thanks to this evolutionary document, each of us has the freedom to worship, research, and communicate in ways that align with our own goals and beliefs. We have the freedom to own property, educate ourselves and our children, to travel, and manage our own affairs. We have the freedom to dream and succeed in our own endeavors. We have the freedom to lead, to inspire, to guide and coach. We have the freedom to entertain, to laugh, to sing and dance. We have the freedom to explore and venture beyond the norm. These freedoms are ours because a few individuals knew it was time to change how we live and how we chose to govern ourselves.
And these brave leaders have carried this torch onward through politics, art, literature, and business:
“For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”
-Nelson Mandela
“A hero is someone who understands the responsibility that comes with his freedom.”
-Bob Dylan
“For everything that is really great and inspiring is created by the individual who can labour in freedom.”
-Albert Einstein
“Humanity has won its battle. Liberty now has a country.”
-Marquis de Lafayette
“It is by the goodness of God that in our country we have those three unspeakably precious things: freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, and the prudence never to practice either of them.”
-Mark Twain
“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.”
-Ronald Reagan
Please enjoy your 4th of July and know we are here to help celebrate these freedoms.
Gillian