Declaration of Independence

Text of Declaration

Most of our patriotism is heightened or depressed based on external factors such as Olympic hockey games, terrorist attacks, governmental policies, presidents, taxes, and special days of the year. On July 4th, it is assumed we will pick up and wave a miniature version of "Old Glory," march in a local parade, sing patriotic songs from the rooftops in full voice, and dispense fireworks from a 12 ounce coke bottle, all the while celebrating America's Independence Day with full jingoistic bluster. Unfortunately, I wasn't overcome with this emotion most of the day, even though I tried a final jolt of "CPR" patriotism  by watching the live concert on PBS from Washington D.C. Barry Manilow blurting out "I write the Songs" just didn't do it for me. External stimuli be damned, or so I thought, until I decided on one final act to find the patriotic fervor that had eluded me most of the day. With the prompting from a "tweet" on Tweeter asking people to read the Declaration of Independence, I pulled up a copy online and spent the next 15 minutes of my evening. This was the antidote to my patriotism blues. Incredibly moved, I absorbed each line of the text, combing over the  carefully chosen words that would impact so many Americans for generations to come. "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness" are unalienable rights given to us by our Creator. I hear John Philip Sousa's march dancing in my head. Im back. Give me the darn flag so I can wave it from atop my house. U-S-A-U-S-A-U-S-A. Long live the United States of America, the greatest country on "God's green earth," to steal a phrase from Michael Medved. Im back baby. "Oh say can you see...