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| Picture from https://allthingsliberty.com/2019/07/the-declaration-of-independence-the-twenty-seven-grievances/ |
Independence Day, the
Fourth of July provides me with an opportunity to, once again, express my sense
of patriotism, which is seated on three documents: the Declaration of
Independence, The US Constitution, and the Gettysburg Address.
I wish to take this
opportunity to focus more deliberately on the true nature of the reasons for
Independence.
I begin with political philosopher
John Locke, who lived well before Thomas Jefferson…
From Second Treatise by
John Locke published 1689…
“ It is evident that all human beings—as creatures belonging to the
same species and rank and born indiscriminately with all the same natural
advantages and faculties—are equal amongst themselves.”
What also is evident is that neither Thomas Jefferson, nor the American
colonists created this idea.
All the lofty ideas at the fore of the Declaration, of which we are so
proud were actually in existence and well-known long before the Declaration was
written.
Equality of individuals is not a uniquely American idea.
But where the words of the Declaration get personal, and truly relevant to
America are found in the twenty-seven listed grievances. These grievances give
us a much more accurate idea of the motivations and reasons for the colonists
to separate from England.
It was not so that “We can do things our own way” or exercise “anarchical,
indiscriminate license”.
It was to be released from the dangers, indignities, and atrocities
which had been perpetrated by a tyrannical King George III.
This section is preceded by the sentence “To prove this, let Facts be
submitted to a candid world.”
I refer the reader to a good explanation of each of the grievances as
presented by the National Park Service at this website:
https://www.nps.gov/fost/blogs/the-declaration-of-independence-what-were-they-thinking.htm
Of interesting note, none
of the twenty-seven grievances accuse King George III of interfering with the
religious life of the colonists.
Though equality of all
individuals is not a uniquely American idea in all of history, all the
documents on which my patriotism is seated aspire and commit to that notion.
Let us not stop making it
a reality.
