July 4 marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. John Adams, one of the signers who eventually became the second president of the United States, predicted future generations would celebrate the day “with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations (fireworks)” from “one end of this Continent to the other.”
Adams had no clue just how accurate his prediction would prove to be.
The document that let King George III know his colonies no longer wanted to remain under his rule has served as an inspiration to Americans ever since.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident,” the Declaration reads, “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 goes on to assert that in order to enjoy these rights, people can create a new government when the existing one fails to meet their needs. These were radical concepts for 1776, and remain so to leaders who would rather force their view of the world upon those they govern rather than follow the wishes of the people. The Declaration says the people hold the power, not the leaders, and the people have the right “to alter or abolish” any government that ignores the wishes of the majority.
The men who put their lives on the line by signing the Declaration of Independence didn’t consider everyone as created equal. Of the 56 who signed the Declaration, 41 owned other humans as slaves. It would be almost another 100 years before slavery would end. Women had little to no legal status, and Native Americans were considered savages. These men recognized the contradictions, but pushed the issues into the future. In the context of the time, the Declaration of Independence was a radical departure from the accepted society.
Their signing, however, created the foundation for a nation where people could build their own success. Through the years, more and more Americans could see a door of opportunity opening for them.
Has America achieved the dreams the signers had 250 years ago? In many ways, yes. A person’s own talent and willingness to work still plays a significant part in his or her success. People still may worship as they please — or not worship — without the government taking on a role of supporting one belief over others. Citizens still may gather to present grievances to elected leaders, and to criticize those leaders.
There are, however, wedges being driven between Americans that could, left unchecked, cause the nation that came into being 250 years ago to split. The disappearing sense of community drives us to seek those who think like us and ignore others. Today’s social media makes it easy to wrap ourselves only in opinions we want to hear. Compromise, especially among our legislative bodies, has disappeared. This “us versus them” mentality serves no one well.
Americans still have the ability to change all of that. The ballot remains the most effective tool available to every American citizen age 18 and older. Like the way things are? Great, go vote and support it. Want to see changes for? Wonderful, be sure to visit a polling place on election day.
That’s the real power of the Declaration of Independence: People guide the course of the nation.
We’ll all honor America’s birthday on July 4 just as Adams predicted with parades, fireworks and celebrations. But the best way to honor the promise of those “unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness …” is to register to vote and cast a ballot one every election day.
Happy birthday, America!