The words of the Declaration of Independence are well-known. We even confuse them with the Constitution. Thomas Jefferson wanted the Declaration of Independence to be clear to all, but he never claimed originality for it. Jefferson's Declaration was the product of a series of revolutions that streamed into the American revolution. Without the technical revolution of the printing press, it would not make sense to publish the causes of the separation to a candid (open-minded world. It thought itself a product of scientific revolutions that would allow us to discern patterns in the 'course of human events" as we discerned pattern in the natural world. His use of the word necessary is a scientific one, of having seen a predictable pattern, as clear as gravity. With its listing of truths, instead of Truth, it reflects the fundamental change of individualism applied to religious orthodoxy.
Jefferson's trinity of rights, but my no means the only ones were life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The pursuit of happiness is sometimes thought to mean a vague, misty yearning. Jefferson uses it about government as well to effect our safety and happiness. For Jefferson, private happiness could find obstacles imposed by the government. Public happiness could be fostered with good government, as measured by social indicators such as educational levels, economic prosperity, and peaceful relations between nations. Notice tha tit is inalienable, one that we cannot give up and remain citizens, remain human.
"All men are created equal." For a slaveholder, the charge of hypocrisy is obvious. Nonetheless the great phrase of equality would be the rhetorical death knell of slavery, just as Lincoln would show in his speeches. Even at his most prejudiced, he had said all. Notice that this is more than equality before the law; this is a fundamental equality that would and did find fruition in later history. His original draft had a long polemic against the slave trade, edited by congress. Jefferson suffered through the revisions, and for the rest of his life, kept his original to be able to show the changes Congress made in his draft.
The document has its few religious components. Jefferson's declaration had even fewer religious references than the final draft. By no means, can a religious doctrine be thought to be a central tenet of the declaration. It betrays no explicit Christian considerations, but certainly sounds like the removed "watchmaker" god of the deists.In natural rights thought, god the Creator also created the basis for human rights. they help constitute our humanity. Put simply, the Declaration cannot be used a pretext for the radical right as an engine against the establishment clause of the First Amendment.Jefferson would write a Virginia law in 1777, enacted in 1786, that would try to keep the state from involving itself in religious matters, and keep the church from using the state as an instrument of control. Still, Congress was modest enough to rely on divine Providence and saw the Supreme judge of the world as part of the audience of r its work. In other words, a higher power than human beings also animates the world.
Jefferson's trinity of rights, but my no means the only ones were life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The pursuit of happiness is sometimes thought to mean a vague, misty yearning. Jefferson uses it about government as well to effect our safety and happiness. For Jefferson, private happiness could find obstacles imposed by the government. Public happiness could be fostered with good government, as measured by social indicators such as educational levels, economic prosperity, and peaceful relations between nations. Notice tha tit is inalienable, one that we cannot give up and remain citizens, remain human.
"All men are created equal." For a slaveholder, the charge of hypocrisy is obvious. Nonetheless the great phrase of equality would be the rhetorical death knell of slavery, just as Lincoln would show in his speeches. Even at his most prejudiced, he had said all. Notice that this is more than equality before the law; this is a fundamental equality that would and did find fruition in later history. His original draft had a long polemic against the slave trade, edited by congress. Jefferson suffered through the revisions, and for the rest of his life, kept his original to be able to show the changes Congress made in his draft.
The document has its few religious components. Jefferson's declaration had even fewer religious references than the final draft. By no means, can a religious doctrine be thought to be a central tenet of the declaration. It betrays no explicit Christian considerations, but certainly sounds like the removed "watchmaker" god of the deists.In natural rights thought, god the Creator also created the basis for human rights. they help constitute our humanity. Put simply, the Declaration cannot be used a pretext for the radical right as an engine against the establishment clause of the First Amendment.Jefferson would write a Virginia law in 1777, enacted in 1786, that would try to keep the state from involving itself in religious matters, and keep the church from using the state as an instrument of control. Still, Congress was modest enough to rely on divine Providence and saw the Supreme judge of the world as part of the audience of r its work. In other words, a higher power than human beings also animates the world.
Thomas Jefferson could have selected many offices and achievements on his tombstone. He skipped president, vice-president,Secretary of State,governor, but he did include the writing of the declaration of Independence. It doesn't take long to read. This July 4th, please consider reading his words again. They help form the political DNA of this country and people seeking freedom all over the globe.John Adams predicted that Independence Day would be one of fireworks and celebrations. Mat it also be one where we return to the very seedbed of American beliefs and measure our progress.
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