As we were reading MMM made the comment that when thinking about that time in the world, it's easy to just think that the King was being unreasonable and that's why they declared independence. Being so far removed from that time, it's easy to gloss over and forget why we did separate from England. But as we continued reading and got to their list of offenses of the King, it was horrifying to hear what was really happening. Even more horrifying to me was seeing a lot of comparisons between that time and now.
"For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:"
That sounds familiar, right?
"For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:"
Patriot Act, anyone?
"For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:"
Again, we have the Patriot Act and the government's 'authority' to detain.
"He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their hands."
Ok, it's not that bad right now, but we do have a government that wants to 'fight for peace' and in so doing are creating enemies in the nations across the world.
We are all familiar with the section that begins "we hold these truths..." but just take a closer look at it. Consider the price these men had to pay for standing up against tyranny. Appreciate the courage they had and the wisdom they showed. Decide for yourself if this country today is a nation that would have made our Founding Father's proud that they did pay that price. Truly read and consider the words they wrote.
"We hold these truth 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 teh 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 an 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 cause; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more dispose 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."
