I do declare
Good day, good people. Since we are on the cusp of celebrating the 249th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, I thought I’d take a shallow dive into this most hallowed of our doctrines, to offer my brief take on things.
Before we go further, you need to understand that I am not a historian, though I enjoy reading about historical events. I despise politics, though I understand that sticking one’s head in the sand is not a solution for most things. And while I will come to the aid of and defend those I love, I wouldn’t post my mug shot next to the definition of brave in the dictionary.
You don’t need to be a historian, enjoy politics, or perform acts of bravery to appreciate all that is contained within this declaration. If you have a few moments, and can weed through the old-timey writing style, I invite you to read the entire document for yourself. It’s quite remarkable.
We’re all familiar with the most famous part, that being:
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.
Hey, in today’s multi-tasking/short attention span world, if you remember this one part, that’s pretty good. And yes, after reading the balance of the document, I realize it contains some outdated, unfair, and unjust language, so let’s not get stalled on those things today.
By now, you know the title of my blog section is In Pursuit Of Perspective (or IPOP for you acronym-loving folks), so I’m asking you to try and see this historic event from a different perspective than that of one living in 2025.
You’re in a stuffy, candlelit room, packed together with overdressed, sweaty men. A blue-gray cloud of tobacco smoke hangs above your itchy wig in the humid July air. Anxious energy crackles all around you as you await your turn to sign a document years in the making. After all the debates, disagreements, clandestine meetings, and sleepless nights, the moment is here. Heart pounding, head buzzing, hand shaking, you accept the quill and ink to do your sworn duty.
Maybe you have a moment of self-doubt, for you know all that’s at stake, and how the opposition will respond. Change is hard, the path forward will be rough, times will be lean, lives will be lost. And that’s if we succeed. What if we fail? Is all of this really worth the hell we’ll bring down upon the people we represent? Are we doing the right thing? Then, you look around you, at the familiar, grim, determined faces. You know they’ve all had similar fears, concerns, and doubts, yet their scrawled ink dries as you deliberate. With a nod, you set your jaw, steel your resolve, and add your name to this Declaration of Independence.
Bravery. What does it mean to you?
Think about that as you grill your burgers, toss your bean bags, light your sky rockets, and plaster yourself in red, white, and blue. Freedom doesn’t come free.
Thanks for tuning in this week, my friends. Please be safe this weekend.
-Dave
