We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
-- U.S. Declaration of Independence
I am well aware of the toil and blood and treasure it will cost us to maintain this declaration, and support and defend these states. Yet through all the gloom I see the rays of ravishing light and glory. I can see that the end is worth all the means. This is our day of deliverance.
-- John Adams
They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.
-- Benjamin Franklin
Dependence begets subservience and venality, suffocates the germ of virtue, and prepares fit tools for the designs of ambition.
-- Thomas Jefferson
Comments
Good points, Bob, but I'd also add the caution that we should remember that our founding fathers believed in the power of our example, but feared the concentration of power and burden upon our resources and liberties that would be entailed in trying to remake the world in our image. Our role in the world has changed greatly, and so our policies necessarily have too, but we should still remember their fears and warnings and the role they had in mind for us. True, though, we too often have come out appearing to stand against our own principles.
The most important right, and reciprocal duty, lies a bit deeper in the deocument:
"Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown 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."
Populations across the Middle East have suffered "while evils are sufferable" but now look to each other, and yes, even to AQ, for the courage and support to challenge in a dozen different countries "a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evincea a design to reduce them under absolute despostism.
And now, the question to all Americans on this independence day, is WHERE DO WE STAND? Do we stand hand in hand with despots in reward for them being long, but largely convenient allies?? Or do we stand with the principles proclaimed by our ancestors so boldly on July 4th 1776, that:
"...it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security."
I, for one, stand with our founding fathers. We too often take the role of supporting the oppressors over supporting the oppressed. AQ stands mockingly on the high ground we once held, certainly they are motivated by their own selfish and controlling agenda, but what options do these people have???
On this independence day remember where we came from, and consider where we are. In a dozen places the US can be a powerful force for avoiding revolution by empowering evolution of governments grown despotic over the years. Many of these governments are allies, some are not. That is not the distinction that should guide our hand, but rather we should be guided by our founding principles captured in this brilliant document.
Let Freedom Ring.
Bob
This will be in my thoughts today: http://peterjmunson.blogspot.com/2011/07/we-mutually-pledge-to-each-oth…