Listen to the Words, People

Too often the text of the Declaration of Independence was presented in one, long ramble so that as school kid we "zoned out" and never heard the richness of the language. Here, let me put in some returns and highlighting, and read this while thinking of the current affairs of government. And tell me if you think that document, if newly written today, would be lambasted by mainstream media as "hateful," "dangerous," and "seditious."

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 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.

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.

My God, even our founding fathers understood that complacency sets in and people do not care what happens so long as the trains run on time. But they considered it our right and our duty to stay eductaed, to be aware, and to be ready to undergo sacrifice and suffering if needed to secure our liberty - because it is worth far more than the Lexus in the driveway.