The Declaration of Independence Isn't Just History, It's Your Inheritance

   This Saturday is Independence Day. It will mark the 250th Anniversary of the founding of this great nation. 

The Courage To Challenge An Empire

   Two and a half centuries have passed since fifty six patriots signed the Declaration of Independence, telling Great Britain that the colonies would stand alone, govern themselves and were not beholden to the mother country any longer. 

   The passage of time makes it difficult to grasp the courage and fortitude required to take this stand. 

   We have the benefit of perspective and know how the story ends. 

   They did not.

    They strolled up to the King of the British Empire and told him to leave and expect no more revenue or influence over the now independent states.

   Monarchs don’t take well to having their power diminished by what he saw as rabble, subjects who were barely worth more than cattle.  It was the equivalent of spit in the face to King George. 

   By putting their names to the document, they knew they would draw the aggression of the world’s superpower of its day. 

   The rebellion had to be crushed. The King couldn’t have the many other colonial assets thinking it was an option to be excused from British rule. 

   It isn’t only independence that offended the King, it was also the statement 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.’ 

   He must have been shocked to learn some people thought they were equal to HIM. 

   And not only did they consider themselves equal, but also believed God saw it as such. How could dirt farmers and shopkeepers ever think they were made of the same stuff as ROYALTY?

   Well, they did, and were right, as proved by history. 

   The first American generation showed the world they had the boldness and fortitude to be free. 

   The discipline of self-rule negates the need for a King. A free people governs themselves before the authority governs them. 

A Declaration Unlike Any Other

   Many have complained about the lack of understanding of our collective history. You may have seen the street interviews where a young person can’t name the Vice President or tell who won World War II. This is terrible.

   But the ignorance of our founding is especially troubling. The Declaration of Independence was the first of its kind in history. There have been other declarations inspired by ours but it is truly an American Original. 

   It is not a dusty, outdated statement spoken to another generation, without meaning for us today.

   No. 

   It defines us as Americans and is an X-Ray to see what we are made of and who we have descended from. 

We Were Never Meant To Serve Kings

   We are made by God and deserve dignity, not expendable animals existing to serve the important rulers. This may seem obvious today but that was the experience of millions in the old world. 

   American patriots were the ones bold enough to say Enough!  

   What the King saw as arrogant defiance was in reality asserting individual liberty that was always ours. 

   The colonists were not rebels. For years, they complied, paid taxes and tolerated abuse, until it became so egregious they took a stand and defied tyranny. King George III had no right to deplete the fruit of their labor, and impoverish them merely because they once lived in Great Britain. 

Liberty Is An Inheritance

   The lesson here is that powerful people have an insatiable appetite for more. At some point, they need to be told ‘No!’ 

   This boldness is in the American DNA. It’s part of the inheritance the Declaration leaves us. This defiance is not one of an unruly mob, but of a people with God- given rights destined for freedom.

   The American experiment lights the way for others in the world to enjoy self-government as well. Americans aren’t the only ones deserving personal freedom, just the ones who laid claim to them. 

Not All Entitlement Is Bad

   There’s much talk today of how Americans have a sense of entitlement. Some young people expect to have their desires without putting in the hard work for it.

   While there is certainly plenty of that going around, the Declaration of Independence reminds us not all entitlement is bad.

   ‘When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them to 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.’  

   Allow me to shorten and cherry-pick a few terms: ‘ . . . for people . . . to assume . . . the equal station . . .which Nature’s God entitle them. . .’

   This sense of entitlement is God-given. 

   While it doesn’t include a nice car or expensive cell phone, you are entitled to enjoy FREEDOM. Americans are entitled to spend their life pursuing what makes them happy. 

   You have permission to chase the dreams that make your heart pound with excitement. What other nation includes this in their founding documents? It is written down as a promise to all of her people.

Lives, Fortune And Sacred Honor

   Another remarkable aspect of the nation’s birth is the last line before the signatures. 

“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.’ 

   They are telling the world and the King that they are relying on God because they believe in Him and that He is with them.

   They also pledge to give all they have to each other, the cause of freedom and the new nation. Lives, fortunes and honor. What else was there to offer? 

   King George had to know they were in the fight for the duration. This wasn’t a passing idea to try out and see if it might work. They were committed to the death. 

   Many suffered loss and hardship as a result of their conviction. Some were imprisoned and died broke. 

Their Courage Is Our Freedom

  When you celebrate this weekend, remember the chutzpah and sacrifice it took to get us here. 

  And remember you are entitled to Life, Liberty and to the pursuit of Happiness. When you exercise your rights, you honor the memory of great patriots.