We Hold These Truths To Be Self Evident

Good Morning Gentle Readers,

Had a delightful conversation over sturdy coffee and huevos rancheros in Old Town ABQ with a good friend a day or so ago. Presently the conversation came around to firearms and freedom. He explained that his country had thousands of years of history and accordingly firearms are tightly regulated. America is different, he explained.....

The gun culture in America was born of an inherent distrust of government that manifests itself to this day.

America's distrust of government has eroded mightily over the last century and, although we have squandered the better part of our birthright on the notion that more taxes will solve everything, there is still an undercurrent of readily apparent dissatisfaction with all things political. Thank God for small favors.

One day, a long, long time ago, a bunch of dead white males came up with something unique. Something appalling. Something that cost most of them whatever was dear to them. Something that doesn't exist most other places. Something that has been abused, debased, stretched, twisted, and warped by subsequent generations, but none-the-less, it is our unique American birthright. 

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.

As Ever,

TWC

Comments

[Chatelaine]

Hooty-hooooo! Hell yeah!

That'll be the best thing I read all day, I'm sure.

[TWC]

Thank you Ma'am. :-)

Happy 4th.

[Anne Donlon]

You're awesome. Enjoy your freedom!

[TWC]

Thanks for the kind words, Anne.