Self-Evident?

The Fourth of July holiday came and went with mixed sentiments. On the 4th of July 1776, the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the United States of America. The declaration was written on behalf of the 13 colonies that took their independence, choosing to free themselves from British rule. The celebration of independence is bittersweet for many for whom independence was not granted in 1776. Freedom is not guaranteed for all. Freedom is yet elusive for many, a reality that is confounding in a country that fought for freedom from the British Empire, and has itself become Empire, perpetuating injustices which were challenged by the founders of the system of government.

History is a great teacher. Unfortunately, the lessons of history are sometimes veiled and masked, other times those lessons are rewritten or even ignored. History ignored is history repeated. This Fourth of July was on a Friday and marked 249 years since the leaders of the Thirteen Colonies declared their freedom from a king whose objectionable actions are described in great detail in the historic document. The rejection of the monarchy was a rejection of tyranny, a rejection of an oppressive form of government that was not in the best interest of all the people.

The fireworks displays of all sizes and types are over for another year. Quiet has returned for some, the loudness of fireworks popping and banging in neighborhoods have returned to the outdoor noises of summer. The day came and went with very little attention to the truths carried in the founding document with its rejection of an oppressive king, the rejection of the monarchy as a system of government that did not work, and the creation of a new system of government – for the people and by the people. In celebrating the founding of the United States, it is easy to overlook the flaws of the moment and stop there.

“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.” This sentence declares equality in a way that identifies the problems faced by those whose rights were not envisioned as a part of this declaration. Even with its explicit desire for freedom, the rights of the enslaved and indigenous persons were not included. This historic declaration of a conditional “all” is a lesson which is yet unlearned and is being repeated with the discrimination experienced beyond race and gender 249 years after the signing of the document. “All” continues to be aspirational, even now, and must be a goal. “We are not free until all are free.”

The document has 1337 words, including the title. And, there are 27 grievances listed against King George III and the British government. The lessons there are noteworthy, in a time when constitutional powers of the branches of government are being challenged, the Declaration of Independence with its flaws and lack of inclusion offers wisdom for the day. The grievances warrant a 21st century examination, as more than a few bear lessons for reflection on this 249th anniversary of the declaration of Independence and the birth of a nation.

Grievance 7: “He has endeavored to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.”

Grievance 10: “He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.”

Grievance 11: “He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.”

Grievance 12: “He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.”

Grievance 16: “For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world”.

Grievance 17: “For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury”.

Grievance 19: “For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offenses”.

There are 27 grievances, each warranting scrutiny in the shadows of what it means to be independent and to guarantee freedom for all. These grievances were a part of the resistance to tyranny, and the quest for justice in the eighteenth century. The resistance to tyranny and abuse of the rights of individuals continues, three centuries later. The lessons from the eighteenth century are self-evident today.

The Declaration of Independence states the principles on which our government, and our identity as Americans, are based. Unlike the other founding documents, the Declaration of Independence is not legally binding, but it is powerful. Abraham Lincoln called it “a rebuke and a stumbling-block to tyranny and oppression.” It continues to inspire people around the world to fight for freedom and equality. The hope for inclusion of all remains. Communities of faith must continue to hold truth as a beacon in the darkening light of tyranny and oppression.

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