Friday, July 4, 2008

4th of July - Always Worth a Read


IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America
W
hen in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with 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.
We hold these truths 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 the 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 and 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 causes; and accordingly 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 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. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.... (declaration complete text here)

Enjoy your 4th of July folks but of course remember the reason.

-Doc

10 comments:

The Mountain Cat said...

Happy birthday America, George Steinbrenner, Eva Marie Saint, Gloria Stuart, Gina Lollobrigida and Ron Kovic!

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday!!!!!!

I hope you all have a great Holiday!!

Ne

Jay said...

Happy 4th to everybody at YJKOBT!

Sunshine said...

I love America, that's why I named my blog what I did instead of something sarcastic and witty. I'm just all gooshy and fuzzy about the Ol' U.S. of A.

Dianne said...

happy 4th everyone!!

enjoy the parade with patrick doc!!

Doc said...

WOOOO HOOOO !!!

JOEY CHESTNUT BEAT KOBYASHI TO WIN THE HOT DOG EATING CONTEST FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW !!!!

As American as Apple Pie said...

Happy 4th Everyone!!! See you soon!

Schmoop said...

Mmmmmmmmm. Mt Cat mentioned Gina Lollabrigida. I love her. Cheers!!

Anndi said...

Here's hoping you have a great July 4th weekend!

Unknown said...

I LOVE this! I once had the whole thing on parchment paper. Can't remember where I got it but I had it framed. Over the years, I have no idea whatever happened to it.