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A courageous group of men understood 247 years ago the need to declare that ALL men are created equal.
They understood that it was a deal breaker for a leader to obstruct "the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither," but also a deal breaker for that leader to erect "a multitude of New Offices, and sen(d) hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance."
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, a careful reading of the whole Declaration of Independence yields snippets to seize by those who think of themselves as being from either side of the political aisle. But that is the beauty of the country which birth was heralded by the publication of that document.
Here, we are free to hold those differing opinions about our government and its operation. Here, we are free to celebrate on July 4 OR to spend the day feeling less celebratory and thinking about what we wish would change -- improve. Neither approach is in opposition to the patriotism launched by our founders.
Either way, we owe it to those brave authors who sparked the American experiment nearly two-and-a-half centuries ago to remember who they hoped we'd be -- and to wonder whether we can be even better than that.
However you spend July 4, do it safely. Happy Independence Day -- everyone.