In anticipation of this most celebrated day of American History, this writer began to wonder what made these men choose between their fortunes, position in society and the possibility of their own demise to take such a bold act in challenging the King of England. As I read their historical biographies, I found something very interesting; each had their own individual personal reasons. It wasn’t just taking a stand against tyranny and oppression.
One line in the Declaration of Independence stood out like a beacon in the night “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness” and made me wonder why this line was included into this famous document. Was it because these men wanted control over their lives, or was it something more? I think I’ve finally figured it out.
The Crown controlled everything throughout the colonies during the time this document was signed. The lives of the people who woke up each morning and cultivated the earth, ground the wheat into flower, baked that bread, made those candles, shoed those horses and delivered those messages from one city to another was distinctly controlled by those in authority. These individuals although able to live their own lives, were in essence slaves to the Crown and its appointed representatives throughout the colonies. They weren’t considered free, they were in essence indentured servants to a greedy King. Therefore, the word “Life” used in the Declaration of Independence meant, to live their life as they decided without interference from another; including those who are in authority.
The word “Liberty” in this document has two meanings. The first is the obvious as defined in the dictionary as “a concept in political philosophy that identifies the condition in which human beings are able to govern themselves, to behave according to their own free will” and what we as American’s believe this word to be use for in this document. But in essence there is another hidden message in using this one word, a personal message from one founding father to the King himself. It is the real reason why John Hancock signed his name with a flourish and the largest signature on this document. The first spark to fuel the revolution was created by representatives of the Crown when they conspired against the wealthiest man in the colonies - John Hancock when they took control of his sloop “Liberty,” owned by Hancock’s shipping company. The “Liberty” was used in an attempt to destroy Hancock’s character and plunder his vast fortune and destroy any attempt by others to fight the Crown. The use of this one word sent a message to the Crown, we the people will not be your pawn and you will not plunder our lands.
The “Pursuit of Happiness” what does this really mean and what was their intent in using this phrase? Some will say it’s one of those “unalienable rights” derived from the Declaration of Independence. Then we have some scholars who claim it’s the right “to pursue any lawful business or vocation, in any manner not inconsistent with the equal rights of others, which may increase their prosperity or develop their faculties, so as to give them their highest enjoyment,” as explained in the United States Code, 111 U.S. 746, 757. Although the Pursuit of Happiness isn’t laid out specifically in the United States Constitution or the U.S. Code, one believes it is not enforceable by the courts. No one knows or understands the true purpose of the use of this phrase, therefore, when it’s raised in legal arguments against government regulations and interference it befuddles the minds of those placed in authority. Just because it wasn’t laid out in layman’s terms in the Declaration of Independence many believe it has no degree of forcefulness.
Each and every one of the Founding Fathers has been called a patriot, a traitor and my personal favorite an elitist. Yes, they were considered patriots because they were willing to use their name and position to stand for something larger than themselves in fighting the injustices inflicted on their community by a selfish King. Yes, during their time in history they were committing traitorous acts against the King of England. Today, we’d call these actions simple politics. Finally, the word elitist; yes they were in their own sense of the word elitist. Wealthy individual’s with large landing holdings, prominent status in the community as leaders. It was also their wealth that funded the beginning of the American Revolution. Because of their individual sacrifices, many of them died broken men. They might have been elitists before the signing of the Declaration of Independence because of their prominent status, but after signing that document, they became simple American citizens just like you and I. When a modern day American calls these men elitists, they dishonor their sacrifice, their accomplishments and their legacy as our founding fathers.
Accordingly, when you celebrate the 4th of July this year and every year, bow your head and say a special prayer of thanks to all those who sacrificed their lives, their fortunes and their principles so you can have the freedom of “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.” You represent the American legacy so enjoy this the 235th anniversary of our Independence!
No comments:
Post a Comment