Reflections This Independence Day

The Declaration of Independence, elegant in its composition, forthright in its annotation of Natural Law, and moving in its conviction, is an authentic American founding document as important as the Constitution itself. Abraham Lincoln referred to the Declaration of Independence as “an immortal emblem of man's humanity” and “the father of all moral principle because it incorporates a rational, nonarbitrary, moral and political standard”.

As the Declaration asserts:
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.

The pursuit of happiness cannot be sought without liberty, and liberty cannot be had without life. Oppressed people throughout history have known this undeniable truth all too well.

To be sure, the founding fathers of our nation were an unconventional and radical lot for their time. By standing up for the laws of nature and openly opposing tyranny they marked themselves as independent thinkers, believers in liberty and natural law – the same natural law which provides certain undeniable rights for humankind.
Many of the founders were executed as traitors for their beliefs pertaining to the unalienable rights the Declaration so boldly proclaims. By signing the Declaration of Independence some founders were indeed signing their own death warrant.

So moved were the French by America’s embrace of independence and defiance of tyranny that they bestowed upon our nation one of the most iconic tributes to liberty the world has known. For 124 years the Statue of Liberty has stood, foot forward, arm raised, torch in hand as an undeniable reminder: Liberty is an American value. This torch shines its light on the land of the free and the home of the brave.

The composition of the Declaration of Independence forged for this nation an experiment never seen before in the history of humankind. To this day the American Experiment endures scrutiny and disdain from forces both domestic and foreign. Some seek to redirect, recreate, and “change” the fundamental nature and original intent of the Declaration of Independence. Further still, some even try to argue that the Constitution is a “living breathing” document up for individual interpretation.
As American citizens, we benefit from the honor, privilege, and right to maintain the integrity of our government as it was so brilliantly conceived by our forefathers. The honor of having a government of the people, by the people, and for the people comes from our duty to ensure no one President, administration, or political party or foreign power ever succeeds in bastardizing the Declaration of Independence or Constitution—that our elected officials never reach beyond the scope of limited power they are entrusted with.
This Independence Day, let us remember the Declaration of Independence and how it is still relevant today. Let us remember those that risked everything, even gave their lives, so that future generations would benefit from living in a free and independent nation. On this day, let us celebrate and revere our Independence!