7/2/98

"This was the object of the Declaration of Independence, not to find new principles or new arguments nor merely to say things which had never been said before; but to place before mankind the common sense of the subject. It was intended to be an expression of the American mind, and to give to that expression the proper tone and spirit called for by the occasion."

So said Thomas Jefferson reflecting upon his drafts of the Declaration of Independence. This weekend we celebrate as a nation, for the 222nd year, our independence as a country. It was the first step towards creating a new nation. The painful and long process of creating a set of laws to govern this country, which became the Constitution, lay ahead. But the Declaration was first. And that is what I would like to spend a moment on today.

Many people wrongly think that the words in the Declaration have the weight of law or are the foundation for our court decisions. Rather, it was just what Mr. Jefferson said they were, as quoted above. They were intended to serve notice to the mother country that these people across the ocean were breaking away and why they were doing so.

What then is so special about the Declaration? First, it is a magnificent piece of writing, even more so when you consider the purpose for which it was written. It served as an inspiration to a people that needed a push to do what had never been done before. It served notice, as we mentioned, to the mother country while, at the same time, eliciting help from other European countries that saw a chance to fight Great Britain. It also served as a blueprint for anyone who questioned the direction this new country would take. What did it say? Actually, it expressed a lot of radical thoughts even for that time period. It also said a lot of conflicting things, much like the author himself. But it also expressed a lot of ideas that still are believed today. That is remarkable! Things like, "all men are created equal (the bible), and are endowed with certain inalienable rights . . . life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness (John Locke). That governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed (Aristotle)." When Mr. Jefferson wrote this he was all of 33 years old! What do you do for an encore? Well, you could become President!

At the end the Declaration actually winds up stating that they, the signers, "renounce all allegiance to the King, utterly dissolve all connection thereto and assert and declare these colonies to be independent states." Astounding! Our country since that time and probably because of the way it was created has always felt that it could achieve anything, and usually has.

As we celebrate this most glorious of holidays in the many ways that Americans can, remember what it took to become a country. Remember that independence was not something that was given or acquiesced to. Remember that from time to time it has been threatened and has somehow still survived. To be a citizen of this country is to be unique. To be a citizen requires a thankfulness and a humbleness. To be a citizen demands that you respect what you have and that means exercising the rights you have -- the most important of which is to vote!