Difference between revisions of "Declaration of Independence commented"
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:There are a few things to note in the first sentence. | :There are a few things to note in the first sentence. | ||
:*People are connected to a government by political bands - not chains. I.e., people consent to be governed. The Declaration states this explicitly in the next paragraph. | :*People are connected to a government by political bands - not chains. I.e., people consent to be governed. The Declaration states this explicitly in the next paragraph. | ||
| − | :::Whenever that is not the case | + | :::Whenever that is not the case, force is involved. |
:*There may come a time, in the life of a group of people, that it becomes necessary to withdraw that consent - to separate from a government to which they had formerly assented. | :*There may come a time, in the life of a group of people, that it becomes necessary to withdraw that consent - to separate from a government to which they had formerly assented. | ||
:*People are entitled to a set of fundamental rights. | :*People are entitled to a set of fundamental rights. | ||
:::It should be emphasized that declaring independence was about rights and not simply an act of throwing off authority. | :::It should be emphasized that declaring independence was about rights and not simply an act of throwing off authority. | ||
| − | :::Armed conflict started as a war against the ministerial army and not a war of independence. England's efforts to enforce acts of Parliament regulating and restricting colonial trade and levying taxes, had resulted in confrontations with the English army. The colonies wanted England to lighten up and allow them at least the level of local government they had previously enjoyed. | + | :::Armed conflict started as a war against the English ministerial army and not a war of independence. England's efforts to enforce acts of Parliament regulating and restricting colonial trade and levying taxes, had resulted in confrontations with the English army. The colonies wanted England to lighten up and allow them at least the level of local government they had previously enjoyed. |
:::The idea of independence did not gain a solid foothold until Thomas Paine's pamphlet "Common Sense" was published in January 1776 - 7 months after Bunker Hill. | :::The idea of independence did not gain a solid foothold until Thomas Paine's pamphlet "Common Sense" was published in January 1776 - 7 months after Bunker Hill. | ||
| − | :*The more famous phrase occurs in the next line of the Declaration, but this first line | + | :*The more famous phrase occurs in the next line of the Declaration, but this first line foreshadows the idea of inalienable rights. According to Jefferson and the other signers, people are entitled to a separate and equal status among everyone else in the world. This, of course, is derived from the fact of 'unalienable rights' . . . |
''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.'' | ''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.'' | ||
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''— 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.'' | ''— 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 tenure of a government is dependent on its good behavior. | :The tenure of a government is dependent on its good behavior. | ||
| − | :*When a government goes beyond its 'just powers', the governed have the right to change it or abolish it | + | :*When a government goes beyond its 'just powers', the governed have the right to change it or abolish it. |
| + | ::A government is, of course, a group of people. So, when one group seeks to change or abolish their government, they must, by necessity, oppose the group that is the government. | ||
| + | ::This has interesting consequences. | ||
''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.'' | ''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.'' | ||
:This is an important two lines. | :This is an important two lines. | ||
| − | :*The acts of declaring independence and replacing an existing government is serious business. it is often easier to endure the transgressions of a misbehaving government than it is to endure the trouble of fixing it. And besides, we | + | :*The acts of declaring independence and replacing an existing government is serious business. it is often easier to endure the transgressions of a misbehaving government than it is to endure the trouble of fixing it. And besides, we become accustomed to the burdens of abridged rights - so rights erode - sometimes slowly and sometimes quickly. |
:*But there comes a time when enough is enough. | :*But there comes a time when enough is enough. | ||
Revision as of 09:53, 5 May 2014
2014/04/20 User:Jeff
