Are These Truths Still Self-Evident?

When in the Course of human events . . .

The founders of this nation valued the concepts of freedom, equality, and representative government so much that they gave of their pens and their lives to give these concepts a permanent home in the hearts and minds of the people of the original thirteen colonies.

Did they conceptualize in 1776 that the united States of America would become 50 states, eventually cover a vast amount of North America, and its citizenry be comprised of a complexity of religions, creeds, and races? It could be that they did. Or that they hoped, because they certainly authored some Divinely-inspired documents which, if followed, leave no doubt as to their intentions for the nation's future.

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 accumstomed. . .

While the founding fathers could not have conceived of penicillin, moon landings, or weblogs, they did not have to because they could conceive of the nature of man and his tendency to become complacent during good times and accepting during bad. They also understood that absolute power corrupts absolutely, and in anticipation of the pains required to throw off the mantle of British tyranny, they crafted the Constitution. Three branches of government checking on and balancing out one another. No power grabs allowed.

Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. . .

This 4th of July, 2006, is the 230th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This year while we boat and camp and picnic with friends and family, we should be stopping to wonder if the democratic truths we once held dear are still self-evident. Or have we grown accepting of imitation democracy? What or who are our constitutionally- provided representatives representing? Where is the tipping point that denotes the end of democracy and the beginning of something that loops us back to 1776?

--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.

Americans might not agree on the fine points, but when we decline to agree on the major ones, it is doubtful we will long continue to be the united States of America. Newly realized truths will become self-evident, and we will wish we had stuck to the plan.

Have a Safe Holiday!