Why we celebrate
It’s Independence Day. Did you remember?
July 4th is more than picnics and fireworks. Today is the 234th anniversary of when the Continental Congress of the thirteen united States of America unanimously adopted the Declaration of Independence from the monarchy of Great Britain.
Here is the text (minus the specific list of grievances); a reminder of what those brave men took a stand on; laying the foundation for the great country we live in today. I encourage you to read it slowly, carefully considering each sentence and what it meant at that time and what it means for us today.
“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.
Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.”
A list of 27 grievances against the King were then listed, from imposing taxes without consent to cutting off world trade. From forbidding emigration the the new land to making the polical process nearly impossible for the common man to be a part of. From abdicating his governance of the colonies and waging war against them to abolishing the lcoal laws of the colonies.
“In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”
The declaration was later signed by 56 men representing the thirteen states.
“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
The above quote holds just as true today as it did back in 1776. There is still a price to pay for freedom. A very difficult price for some. And yet, we embrace the risk of paying that price to continue what our Founding Fathers began.
We continue to believe firmly in the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We continue to believe in the right of self-governance. We continue to believe that all men (broad meaning) are created equal. We continue to pledge our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor to support this declaration.
This is why we celebrate.
Join the conversation. Join the movement. Follow WhyWeCelebrate on Twitter and post messages using the hashtag #WhyWeCelebrate. Join the Facebook page and post messages of what Independence Day means to you. If you’re travelling and see a Soldier, Airman or Marine along the way, thank them for their service. If you have your own blog, share a message about why we celebrate on July 4th.
Tags: Culture, Gratitude, Holidays, Integrity, Leadership, Life, Peace, Politics, Possibilities
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