Independence

 1776

Franklin, Adams, and Jefferson working on the Declaration

                                              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 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 of 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 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

***

The Egyptians are striving for life, liberty, 

and the pursuit of happiness just like America did in 1776

2013   -  July 3/4

In Cairo - Egypt

 Fireworks light up the sky as opponents of Mohammed Morsi celebrate in Tahrir Square

What the masses in Tahrir Square want their rulers to understand, precisely, 

is 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.”

 

  And as the American Declaration of Independence proclaimed without equivocation, 

governments derive “their just powers from the consent of the governed.”

*****

***

*

picture source:

http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html
 guardian.co.uk  (Series: Eyewitness)
http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus

-