"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
pursuit of happiness" - this, from the Declaration of Independence, has been
called one of the best-known sentences in the English language. This passage came to represent a moral
standard to which the United States should strive. It was said that Abraham Lincoln considered these very words
to be the foundation of his political philosophy.
Incredibly, a small group of
revolutionaries - which the British referred to as "rabble" - were in direct
conflict with the greatest military power on earth and those who signed this
document did so at peril of losing everything. Written by Thomas Jefferson, this Declaration was the
instrument with which the several colonies severed ties with Great Britain by
listing colonial grievances against King George III of England.
Some of the British abuses
and insufferable acts specifically listed are as follows:
"He
has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither swarms of officers to
harass our people."
"He
has affected to render the military independent of and superior to the civil
power."
"He
has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our
constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving assent to their acts of
pretended legislation:
For
cutting off our trade with all parts of the world:
For
depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of trial by jury:
For
transporting us beyond seas to be tried for pretended offenses"
"He
has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the
lives of our people."
A reflection: "Through the
eyes of others."
Now, more than two centuries
later, it is time to consider our role in Afghanistan and Iraq. How many of these grievances apply to
U.S. policies as seen through the eyes of others? It can be argued that we are at war and therefore some of
these actions are necessary. But when
considering it has been more than eleven years, it appears Afghanistan is an
occupation and an excuse to wage war on perceived terrorists - and what about
Iraq which appears to be a trumped up excuse to get Saddam Hussein?
It is a fact we have deprived
many the benefit of a trial by jury and we have transported them to a foreign
land where they were subjected to certain forms of torture. We have cut off trade, burned their
towns, and destroyed the lives of their people.
And what about this complaint:
"He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our
constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws?" Clearly, we do not understand Middle Eastern customs with
respect to the dress code for women nor their subjugation and limited rights. It should be recalled this country did
not allow women to vote for more than two hundred years. It would hardly seem we have any right
to point fingers.
We recognize Middle-eastern
society is comprised of many tribes, clans and sects who do not get along with
one another and yet we think they should adopt some form of democratic rule. But Middle-eastern tribal leaders are
not willing to surrender their influence to any governing body unless, of
course, they are the ones holding that power.
Is it possible that, after
two hundred years, the United States has fallen into the same trap complained
about by our fore-fathers? And
what about the Patriot act and various secret surveillance techniques acquired
under the threat of terrorism which has given the Administration the right to
arrest and, without benefit of a trial by jury, transport anyone (including
American Citizens) to a foreign land?
It is time for this nation to
take another look at one of our most precious documents and consider whether
we, as a nation, have come full circle and are now pursuing policies outlined
so clearly in The Declaration of Independence as being insufferable and
despotic.