Of course, it’s America’s Independence Day - the date on
the calendar in 1776 when the Declaration of Independence was proclaimed (actually
signed by members of the Second Continental Congress on July 2) to the public
of the thirteen colonies, separated from Great Britain.
It was, to put it mildly, a monumental occasion. Two hundred and forty years ago, it was also
a fearsome event. While today, as then,
we celebrate the event with fireworks and pride, it wasn’t viewed with
unalloyed joy in 1776. The Declaration,
after all, was directed against the most powerful country in the world.
The sober-minded among the signers clearly knew the
consequences of failure and did not conceal their awareness.
Thus the Declaration closes with this courageous yet
foreboding sentence:
“And
for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we
mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our
sacred Honor.”
Does America – do Americans – still have the gumption to
risk all for our liberty and way of life?
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