“When in the Course of human events…”

When you think about it the United States’ Declaration of Independence is a really bold and audacious document. It sets out the theory and specific reasons why thirteen colonies should break ties with their mother country and govern themselves. As the lead character in the movie National Treasure says when proposing a toast to the Declaration — “To high treason.”

(And I was recently reminded by an old episode of the TV show History Detectives that not all the colonists wanted to break with the mother country.  As Winston Churchill said – “History is written by the victors.”  But that is a reflection for another time.)

It is a shame that most people only remember two selected phrases out of a longer sentence in the Declaration — “all men are created equal” and they are endowed with “certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Now there is nothing wrong with these concepts, but rather that they are taken out of the context of the document.

First, between these two phrases comes the reminder that as all humans are created equal they are endowed “by their Creator” with the rights.

Second, the next line says “That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed”
And so, while the Declaration is frequently thought of as a document that secures my personal right to happiness, it is actually a document that sets forth the role of God, the government, and the community in providing and securing that happiness for us as a society. Yes, the Declaration of Independence is not so much about me as it is about us.

When was the last time that you read the Declaration of Independence? Outside of the opening and closing it gets a bit less interesting. The majority of the document is the enumeration of the “repeated injuries and usurpations” that had been inflicted on the colonies. Have a look.

And after all the “whereases” comes one concluding paragraph:

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. (emphasis added)

The Declaration concludes as it began, with reliance on God and a mutual pledge to the community on their sacred honor.
This was not about any one of them individually. This was not safe and easy as Benjamin Franklin is quoted pointing out at the signing of the Declaration – “We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.” And this example holds for the faith community as well as general society.

Now I will let John Adams have the final word. On July 3, 1776 he wrote to his wife Abigail –

But the Day is past. The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.

You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not. — I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. — Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will tryumph in that Days Transaction, even altho We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not.

(Note: In a rare action I am cross-posting this on both my Everything in Moderation and The GA Junkie blogs.)