Heeding the Declaration of Independence

Declaration of Independence
Declaration of Independence. Image in public domain.

Many Americans are familiar with the following words, which ring out near the beginning of the Declaration of Independence:

“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 document, and the Revolutionary War that followed it, gave rise on this continent to a new nation, but it is not a nation that has acknowledged the equality of all men nor has it afforded life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness to all. More than 200 years have passed since that famous signing, yet these independent and united states  still do not ensure equal rights and self-determination for all.

If successive governments since those revolutionary times had consistently heeded the values expressed in that document, and had used those values to guide their own behavior at home and abroad, how different the world might be today.

For example, to justify revolting against British rule, the signers of the Declaration accused the King of the following “abuses and usurpations”:

  • “depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury”
  • ”transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences”
  • “transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny.”

Consider how the U.S. government could be accused of similar “abuses and usurpations,” and ask yourself, is this who we want to be?

Tortured Abu Ghraib prisoner
Tortured Abu Ghraib prisoner. Image in public domain.

Kathie Malley-Morrison, Professor of Psychology

A week for celebrations

Fireworks
Photo by Ikluft, used under CC Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

In two days Americans will celebrate their Declaration of Independence. If we want to pursue its values, how should we define patriotism?

No one is more eloquent on this topic than Howard Zinn, one of the dedicatees of this blog:

“If patriotism were defined, not as blind obedience to government, nor as submissive worship to flags and anthems, but rather as love of one’s country, one’s fellow citizens (all over the world), as loyalty to the principles of justice and democracy, then patriotism would require us to disobey our government, when it violated those principles.” From: Declarations of Independence: Cross-Examining American Ideology (1991).

Also relevant are the words of the other dedicatee of this blog, Freda Rebelsky. In a note to students, she wrote:

“In a democracy, each individual must share in deciding the direction society shall move. It is up to you to decide when to conform and when to defy authority, when to trust and when to be skeptical. I believe you will make better choices when you remember your humanity.”

Please celebrate July 4 by recommitting yourself to the ideals of liberty and social justice.

Also join your minds and hearts with us today as we celebrate the 200th post on Engaging Peace, a blog dedicated to peace, peace education, and the promotion of social justice.

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Kathie Malley-Morrison, Professor of Psychology

Who are the real patriots?

How about Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, Samuel Adams, and John Penn, who were among the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence?

Liberty Bell
Liberty Bell. Photo by Serguey, used under CC Attribution 3.0 Unported license.

What did these patriots say about the ethical principles and human rights that underlay the formation of a new nation?

“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.“

For a true patriot, a true conservative, these words provide a mantra or creed to live by. They are an ethical commitment echoed in the final phrase of the Pledge of Allegiance that all Americans are expected to know and honor: “with liberty and justice for all.”

Our early patriots would be ashamed of the hypocrisy of generations of Americans who call themselves conservatives and/or patriots but who have trampled on the rights of others while promoting their own agendas.

Why do I raise these issues now? Because it is almost July 4, the day we celebrate the endorsement by those early patriots of the Declaration of Independence.

We the people of the United States have a great deal of work to do if we are going to honor the task that our forefathers and foremothers set forth: liberty and justice for all.

Our armed forces fighting in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other parts of the world were not sent there by our leaders for patriotic reasons.

Killing and maiming men, women, and children may appear to those leaders to strengthen the position of the U.S. government in the Middle East and elsewhere; however, such acts of war are more likely to endanger than to ensure the life, liberty, and happiness not only of victims of American aggression but also of Americans themselves.

Kathie Malley-Morrison, Professor of Psychology

Independence and freedom movements

Declaration of Independence by John Trumbull
Declaration of Independence by John Trumbull. Image in public domain.

In the American Declaration of Independence, dated July 4, 1776, one can find the famous words:  “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.”

To pursue their unalienable rights, the revolutionaries among the American colonists successfully took up arms against what they saw as unjust authority and ultimately won independence for the colonies.

Historically, the Greed Elite in this country, the Robber Barons and their successors, have scoffed at the idea that all men are created equal, and have helped dictators around the world resist freedom movements. Greed has trumped human rights for much of history, but that does not mean that progressive change is impossible.

Based on our belief in the values within the Declaration of Independence, and the responsibilities that come with liberty and leadership, we have three recommendations:

  • Seek ways to insure that people in other nations gain the rights enjoyed by Americans, who were born into a country where freedom was won centuries ago
  • Remember that many successful freedom movements were won through non-violent resistance and negotiation
  • Strive to reverse the failures of many of our leaders at all levels of society to live up to the principles in the Declaration of Independence.

Efforts to support principles of equality and human rights can be taken in the home, the community, the state, the nation, and internationally.

What have you done to support these principles—for example, through signing petitions, writing letters, marching peacefully? Please send us your stories.

Kathie Malley-Morrison, Professor of Psychology