Happy Independence Day!

[hummingwolf]

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.

Appropriate reading for my fellow Americans.

Comments

How did you know I wanted to find this?

[pnksaph.livejournal.com]

Go you.
This was printed in the paper today, but it was a copy of the original document.....small print and swirly type, so it was hard to read. I planned to find a copy and read it. Thanks for doing the work for me.
Happy 4th.

Re: How did you know I wanted to find this?

[hummingwolf.livejournal.com]

I like to post a little bit of the Declaration every year, just to remind people how subversive our Founding Fathers were. ::grin::

The National Archives website has the full transcripts, pictures of the originals, & history of the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, & Bill of Rights. It's nifty.