4th of July

On the occasion of the 233rd anniversary of the adoption of the "Declaration of Independence" by the Second Continental Congress of the United States of America, I would like to congratulate my American brethren. The founding fathers of the original thirteen colonies were farsighted and precise against what they were fighting for, and who they were fighting against. Their views, are brought froth quite emphatically in the document, and one can clearly see the imprints of the great Thomas Jefferson, who was the primary author of the declaration.

The document, however "perfect" in its aims and objectives, was delivered by humans for the benefit of humans. It could therefore be argued that while its goal was of perfection, its implementation leaves a trail of imperfections. Indeed, the next great documentation to be born out of the Declaration of Independence, namely the US Constitution, had until 1865, a clause which stated that a slave, was three-fifths of a man. Moreover in a juxtaposition of sorts Thomas Jefferson, an avowed abolitionist, was himself a slave owner. In addition, the original draft listed the commerce of slavery as one of the violations that justify a break from England. The passage was stripped from the final version at the demand of the southern states, who would not vote for independence otherwise.

Some of my most favourite passages are reproduced below:

"...When 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 abolish it, and to institute a 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..."

I find it particularly interesting that in this declaration, the drafters have inserted a clause which allows, nay commands the people to fight for their rights. I believe the citizens of the United States of America are incredibly powerful in knowing that in theory, they can overthrow their government, should it diverge significantly from these principles, or take a stand that is not synonymous with the concept and idea of democracy.

However, my question still remains: Is the nation, notwithstanding the election of the President of the United States of America, still living upto the ideas of its forefathers?

God bless the United States of America.