The Fourth

It means different things to different people, some dependent on age, military service, social status... but the Fourth, no matter your interpretation, all comes back the first 2 sections (introduction and preamble) of The unanimous Declaration of thirteen united States of America.

"When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands, which have connected them with another, and to assume, among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain Inalienable 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 theconsent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or 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."

It's an incredibly powerful writing to think about, to dissect, to interpret. It marked the true beginning of the United States of America, though at that time we were 13 independent states. There are many times in my life I've been grateful to have been born in the United States, then there have been times I've been saddened by my governments actions both at home and in lands far away.

I think about the phrase "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain Inalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness". It could be interpreted so differently. To say something is "self-evident" means it's true without proof and it's used to say all men are created equal. I think that the base statement is true, all men are created equal... but does the preamble apply to women and children? Does it apply once the act of creation or birth has passed? Really, it's a good question. Whether applying it to the United States of America, or to the world as a whole it's self-evident perhaps that the lives of people; men, women and children are not valued as equally as they are created.

So on this celebratory occasion, I cannot help but think of Magpie, born into a land where her worth is so different than had she been born in another country. And I realize when she comes to the United States there may yet be more inequality for her to face. So on this Fourth of July, I think about that phrase of creation equality and I realize we have much to celebrate and much to pursue in life.

Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness, may each of us find it in our own way and may we help pave the way for our children to find each of those things too, however they define it.