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.
(Declaration of Independence)
HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!
Hey, what if some government becomes destructive of those ends? What then? :-)
ReplyDeleteHappy Fourth, and our nation should live so long as to produce more prose like that.
Happy Fourth to Grandmere, her family, and to Thibodaux!
ReplyDeleteThis is an excellent post for the day.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Grandmère Mimi.
And Happy Fourth!
You'd have been better of staying with us!
ReplyDeleteYou know, Doorman-Priest, I've often thought that, actually.
ReplyDeleteHey, what if some government becomes destructive of those ends? What then?
ReplyDeletePorlock, then you read the rest of the Declaration and decide.
DP, Ellie, I can't see it. We're a restless bunch. If not then, the break would have come eventually.
And we are such good friends now.
Amen to the opening paragraph of the Declaration.
ReplyDeleteSome of those truths are definitely not self-evident!!!
ReplyDelete:)
Happy Fourth, Statesonians!
Champagnes all round. Happy 4th of July
ReplyDeleteYea, Paul, amen.
ReplyDeleteTim, some of us hold these truths to be self-evident, though, all too often, more honored in the breach than in the observance.
Cathy, I'm having wine, if you don't mind.
I guess I had in mind the old rubric to the 1662 Prayer Book ordination service which said something like 'It's evident to all that from the apostles' time there have been these three orders in the Church of bishops, priests, and deacons'. It was certainly evident to the authors of the BCP, but it obviously wasn't evident to all, otherwise there wouldn't have been Congregationalists, Baptists, Presbyterians, etc. etc.!!!
ReplyDeleteI believe human beings are created by God in God's image and find their life and liberty in pursuing God's will for them. It may or may not look like 'the pursuit of happiness', however.
I believe human beings are created by God in God's image and find their life and liberty in pursuing God's will for them.
ReplyDeleteWhat about the unbelievers amongst us?
We just try to improve the current world.:-)
ReplyDeletePersonally a little bit of Paine is useful for the day. The following I fear is all too apropos for events in the last 9 years.
"An avidity to punish is always dangerous to liberty. It leads men to stretch, to misinterpret, and to misapply even the best of laws. He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty, he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself."