Words of Wisdom from SharLeigh
A DOCUMENT FOR ALL MANKIND
The birth of a nation is never a peaceful time. Throughout history it has always been a time filled with animosity, class struggles and rebellion – followed by the pains of war! And so it was for our Republic. The gentlemen farmers of the American colonies were declaring their independence by breaking away from an “old world” monarchy. It was a unique concept to form a new nation of 13 loosely connected states without a king to govern them. These colonists were loyal British subjects, but they were not given a voice in their government, were taxed without representation and treated as second class citizens. So they formed a Continental Congress to state their grievances to King George III of England; their plan was to peacefully try to make the King understand, but instead he declared his American subjects to be “engaged in open and avowed rebellion against the crown.” So be it! The Continental Congress appointed Thomas Jefferson to write the first draft of a Declaration of Independency, and it was from this draft that the Continental Congress later approved the final Declaration of Independence. It was a document written for all of mankind. It did not mince words – it was direct and to the point! A portion of the preamble states: “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.” It went on to say: “Whenever any form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it.” These were powerful ideals that cut straight to the heart! The times were perilous for these representatives who were committing treason against their King. But they were brave and firm in their beliefs. On July 4, 1776 the bells rang out proclaiming the Declaration of Independence! That was 232 years ago and today that bold Declaration can still be viewed in the National Archives and Records Building in Washington D.C.