I'd like to start this post by saying Happy Independence Day, or as our friends from of over the pond might say Happy Treason Day. Whichever way you prefer I hope your day is full of life, liberty, and happiness.
What I'd like to focus on today is what makes The United States of America so unique. It's not necessarily freedom, or justice that make us unique. I mean especially now, there are many other nations that share these qualities. What makes this nation unique is that it has always been a nation of opportunity. When the first colonists came here it was an opportunity. An opportunity to be free from the oppressive regimes back home, to practice their faith freely without persecution, or to have a second chance at life.
But what's made this nation a nation of opportunity? Well that I'd have to credit much to our founding fathers. You see documents such as the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, and others from the time are documents that will always be relevant. For instance let's take a look at the Declaration of Independence from July 4th, 1776.
"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" - The Declaration of Independence
Now you might say in criticism that at the time this only applied to white male landowners, and well to be perfectly honest, you'd be right. But let's look at the wording used here. It states that all men are created equal, making no reference to color, religion, or landownership. It also states that all men share certain unalienable rights. So with these two things in mind I'd like to mention that the author of this declaration was Thomas Jefferson, a known advocate for the abolition of slavery in the colonies. A man who described the slave trade as a "Moral Depravity" and "Hideous Blot". The wording he chose is very selective. He could've just said men are created equal, or even that Anglo-Saxon are men are created equal. He could've been as inclusive or exclusive as he liked, but he chose to say that all men are created equal. It is this in mind that led to events such as the 13th Amendment.
"Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to the jurisdiction." - 13th Amendment of the Constitution of the United States.
If you're not sure as to what the 13th Amendment means, it means that slavery is no longer legal in the United States, it was a step towards fulfilling that creed that all men are created equal. You see that's the beauty of what Jefferson wrote, not necessarily the words themselves, but their long lasting reach. Another example of this is found in one Martin Luther King Jr. during the height of the Civil Rights movement.
"In a sense we've come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the "unalienable Rights" of "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Is this not sufficient evidence of the integrity and longevity of the Declaration of Independence? If not let me make another case from the 1st Amendment of our constitution.
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." - 1st Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America.
In fact it is this very 1st amendment that allowed Dr. King to give his
"I Have a Dream" speech. That was him exercising his 1st amendment right.
Another point we must remember is that many people came to this country seeking religious freedom. After all many English, Irish, Welsh, and Scottish colonists came as a means to evade the Crown's influence over their practice of religion. We also see this in how Catholicism is practiced right beside Protestant faiths. It wasn't so initially, when Irish, Polish, and Italian Catholics first came to this country they faced scorn from the at the time predominantly Protestant majority, but over time they made a place for themselves here, and I hope that the next generation can say the same for the Islamic faith, that while yes there were initial growing pains, Protestants, Catholics, Muslims, Atheists, and Agnostics all live together, work together, and pursue happiness together.
You see The United States has always been a nation of possibilities. We may put our politics before our principles at times, but we're always seeking to fulfill those ideals left us by the founding fathers. After all just look how far we've come. A Catholic and Protestant can marry, A black man and white man can work side by side in friendship, a Muslim and an Agnostic can discuss beliefs respectably and peacefully. And we're not done yet, we're still working for that day where we can well and truly say without any doubt that all are equal, and have the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
May you all enjoy our Independence Day. - Francis