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Monday, July 4, 2011

IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776

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.

235 years ago today The Declaration of Independence was approved as the official wording by congress to back up their vote on July 2 that actually declared their independence from Great Britain and was for all practical purposes propaganda to inform everyone they were 'free' of British rule. The actual Revolutionary War was started a year prior to the document declaration and the war continued on for several more years after. It was a long and tiring war, but with quick thinking, luck and a little help from the French, we are not declaring allegiance to Queen Elizabeth II today.

I actually try to read the Declaration of Independence once a year. Not just because I am a history freak or that I like reading, but because it is fascinating to me that a document that was written 235 years ago still holds up. It's not a long read and you can just skim it if you like, but it encapsulates the very reason why they were fighting and why this country needed to be free from British oppression. The battle for Independence began years before the Declarations inception and continues to be relevant to this day as both a reminder for us (Americans) and for inspiration for other countries that are still fighting their own Independence.

You can read a transcript of the Declaration of Independence here.

Happy 4th of July!!


Without Freedom of Thought there can be no such Thing as Wisdom; and no such Thing as Public Liberty, without Freedom of Speech.
Benjamin Franklin, writing as Silence Dogood, No. 8, July 9, 1722

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