THINKING FOR OURSELVES

Independence Day

By Shea Howell

Michigan Citizen, July 8-14, 2007

Independence day. The Fourth of July. The anniversary of the American Revolution is a time for picnics, parades and barbeques. The political turmoil that this day marks is rarely considered.

This year, however, is a good time to pull out that old Declaration of Independence and take a look at some of the ideas it advances. Framed by an illegal war, amidst secrecy, scandal, incompetence, cronyism, and the dismantling of long-held beliefs and institutional practices, its familiar phrases take on new meaning. Reading it today is an opportunity to think about the kind of country we are becoming and to consider if we like what we see.

The preamble begins with an appeal to something that seems far removed from those who govern us today—“a decent Respect to the opinions of mankind.” Most of us could make a very long list of how little respect this government holds for the opinions of the majority of people in this country or around the world. The decision to invade Iraq, to stay there, and to increase troop strength are the most obvious, among the many instances of disrespect.

The preamble also sets forth a succinct view of the role of government and its source of legitimacy. It declares:

“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.”

The Declaration lists what it calls a “ long Train of Abuses and Usurpations,” as a way to establish that the Right and Duty “to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future Security.”

Less familiar and often rooted in the context of the late 18th century are the “repeated Injuries and Usurpations” that served as the basis for revolt.

Here are some of the indictments of King George:

• HE has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public Good.
• HE has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing Importance, unless suspended in their Operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
• HE has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.
• HE has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the Tenure of their Offices, and the Amount and Payment of their Salaries.
• HE has kept among us, in Times of Peace, Standing Armies, without the Consent of our Legislatures.
• HE has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.
• HE is, at this Time, transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to complete the Works of Death, Desolation, and Tyranny, already begun with Circumstances of Cruelty and Perfidy, scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous Ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized Nation.

These words echo through the centuries as a reminder of what motivated the best in the American tradition. It is time to declare ourselves anew if we wish the security and peace that comes with the respect of humankind.

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