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Fireworks on July 3, 2009 at Powell Gardens in Kingsville, Missouri.
Thomas Jefferson – July 4, 1826
May (July 4) be to the world, what I believe it will be — to some parts sooner, to others later, but finally to all — the signal of arousing men to burst the chains under which monkish ignorance and superstition had persuaded them to bind themselves, and to assume the blessings and security of self-government. That form (of government) which we have substituted, restores the free right to the unbounded exercise of reason and freedom of opinion. All eyes are opened, or opening, to the rights of man. The general spread of the light of science has already laid open to every view the palpable truth, that the mass of mankind has not been born with saddles on their backs, nor a favored few booted and spurred, ready to ride them legitimately, by the grace of God. These are grounds of hope for others. For ourselves, let the annual return of this day forever refresh our recollections of these rights, and an undiminished devotion to them.
Today is OUR holiday.
First and foremost, the day celebrates the signing of one of the great documents of the Enlightenment. It lays out two fundamental principles of govnerment to fight the forces of reaction. First, the purpose of government is to secure the rights EVERYONE has to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Second, government derives its power from the consent of the governed, not from any god or king or special class.
Of course, at the time of its writing, “everyone” meant essentially property owing white men. The history of our country has been one of fulfilling the promise of everyone — first to all white men, then all blackmen, then women, and now we are engaged in expanding it to homosexuals.
It is those on the Left that have struggled to fulfill the promise of the Declaration of Independence. We have had defeats (consider Jim Crow), but over time we eventually win.
This is OUR holiday. Those who came before stuggled to make sure that this land belongs to you and me and everyone. It is now our turn to defend what has been won and expand the promise of Declaration to ALL who live here.