The Unanimous Declaration
of the Thirteen United States of America
...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 to 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 shown 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...
Please note: photo by Joe Raedle/Getty
A U.S. Marine from the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, RCT 2nd Battalion 8th Marines Echo Co. deployed for Operation Khanjari on July 2, 2009 in Main Poshteh, Afghanistan, a mission to support the local Afghan population prepare for the upcoming presidential elections.
...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 to 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 shown 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...
Please note: photo by Joe Raedle/Getty
A U.S. Marine from the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, RCT 2nd Battalion 8th Marines Echo Co. deployed for Operation Khanjari on July 2, 2009 in Main Poshteh, Afghanistan, a mission to support the local Afghan population prepare for the upcoming presidential elections.
May this one be brief and safe.
ReplyDeleteJust stopped over to visit your blog...your life seems full and your mind in engaged with the times! I hope that peace comes to everyone...and I think I understand your logic on the topic. All engagement in war must be carefully thought through. What part of the world do you write from? I'm writing from Puerto Rico. When you have time, why don't you visit?
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting this. It is as timely today as it was when it was written.
ReplyDeleteI just watched "1776" last night. Now I have a better idea of what this actually means. :)
ReplyDeleteInspiring words with amazing vision for an awesome country.... :)
ReplyDeleteIn light of your love for poetry, in reference to Afghanistan here, your photo and words reminded me of a poem I hadn't read for years, but it came back for some reason... it's easy to find on the web : The Young British Soldier, by Rudyard Kipling
ReplyDeleteForeign forces have been going to Afghanistan for a long time... rarely with happy results.
It was a happy thing that Biden was able to spend the 4th of July with his son over in Iraq, where we never should have gone and should have, instead, been serious about Afghanistan from the get-go. Years after the fact, I have a feeling of real doom and gloom about our prospects there.
ReplyDelete