Now more than Ever: Let’s Remember what’s in the Declaration of Independence

For a number of years we gathered with a group of friends on the 4th of July to do the usual celebratory things — share a meal and hoist a cold one, watch fireworks, enjoy one another’s company. But we did one particular thing that, though it initially seemed a bit awkward, became the very heart of our 4th of July gatherings.

We read “The Declaration of Independence” aloud, each taking one or more turns as we worked through what is a relatively short document. The whole reading didn’t take more than 10 or 12 minutes. Reading it this way was sobering but also moving. It lent gravity to the celebrations of the day.

And it reminded us of what our forebears found so objectionable about the rule of King George III that they were willing to risk their lives, liberty and “sacred honor.” It is a protest against the arbitrary and coercive use of power by the government. Government, meant as the founders saw it, to protect people and their God-given and “inalienable rights,” was being used for just the opposite purpose: to attack the people. “We, the people,” objected.

Now is a very good time for U.S. citizens to review it. Here’s a link to the National Archives.

The Declaration begins by setting forth an understanding of the role of government and of the rights of all human beings. Here’s a part of that section.

“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.”

But the Declaration doesn’t stop with general principles, though these are important and, I would say, beautiful — even as, yes, we understand they were, at the time they were written, flawed in application. The Declaration goes on to list a bill of particulars, grievances against the crown. The “He” in each instance is King George.

“He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

“He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.

“He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

“He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.

“He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

“For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

“For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States . . .”

I wonder how many of us, today’s U.S. citizens, really know the content of The Declaration? Certainly, until we began our annual practice of reading it aloud, I did not. Probably those among us who know it best are the immigrants who have naturalized as U.S. citizens.

I wonder how many ICE and Border Patrol officers know the words of the Declaration? Is it, or the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights, part of their training? I wonder if Donald Trump and the officers of his administration have bothered to read and consider these words?

Oh, I know they would find ways to wrap themselves not only in the flag but in The Declaration and to insist whatever they do is sanctioned by it. But they would be twisting the truth, torturing the truth really. This nation was founded on and as an objection to coercive and arbitrary use of power by government. The current use of ICE, of the Border Patrol is both coercive and arbitrary, and extremely dangerous.

And, note, that legislation in the “Big Beautiful Bill” passed last year will in the coming fiscal year so enlarge, engorge you might say, these agencies that they themselves will be larger than the militaries of most of the world’s nations.

These are our roots. This is our heritage: risking life and liberty to object to the militarization of our common life and to the coercive use of government power.

Am I calling for a revolution or a civil war? No. When you read it you will see that the Founders were careful to not undertake such an action lightly or precipitously.

But I am calling us to remember who we are? Absolutely. For I am worried that we have forgotten who we are.