by Svea Sauer
On the fourth of July we celebrate Independence Day in remembrance of the Declaration of Independence when we had the audacity to declare our autonomy as a nation, giving ourselves the freedom to choose our own form of government. We take this for granted while most of the rest of the world yearns to be free.
There should be one moment when the clock stops while we ponder the amazing chutzpah of those who pledged their lives and their fortunes to the great undertaking.
On June 8, 1783, George Washington sent a circular to State Governments, part of which follows:
“The Citizens of America, placed in the most enviable condition, as the sole Lords and Proprietors of a vast Tract of Continent, comprehending all the various soils and climates of the World, and abounding with all the necessaries and conveniencies of life, are now by the late satisfactory pacification, acknowledged to be possessed of absolute freedom and Independency; They are, from this period, to be considered as the Actors on a most conspicuous Theatre, which seems to be peculiarly designated by Providence for the display of human greatness and felicity; Here, they are not only surrounded with every thing which can contribute to the completion of private and domestic enjoyment, but Heaven has crowned all its other blessings, by giving a fairer oppertunity for political happiness, than any other Nation has ever been favored with. Nothing can illustrate these observations more forcibly, than a recollection of the happy conjuncture of times and circumstances, under which our Republic assumed its rank among the Nations; The foundation of our Empire was not laid in the gloomy age of Ignorance and Superstition, but at an Epocha when the rights of mankind were better understood and more clearly defined, than at any former period, the researches of the human mind, after social happiness, have been carried to a great extent, the Treasures of knowledge, acquired by the labours of Philosophers, Sages and Legislatures, through a long succession of years, are laid open for our use, and their collected wisdom may be happily applied in the Establishment of our forms of Government; the free cultivation of Letters, the unbounded extension of Commerce, the progressive refinement of Manners, the growing liberality of sentiment, and above all, the pure and benign light of Revelation, have had a meliorating influence on mankind and increased the blessings of Society. At this auspicious period, the United States came into existence as a Nation, and if their Citizens should not be completely free and happy, the fault will be intirely their own.”
Please note the last sentence. Do you recognize your fellow citizens in this picture of “political happiness,” the “refinement of manners.” “the growing liberality of sentiment?”? If you find anything lacking in this picture of how we have used the priceless opportunity given to us by the sacrifices of our forebears, the fault is entirely our own.
