Two hundred thirty-three years ago, July 4, 1776, a group of brave (some at the time considered foolish) men signed, at great personal risk, a document known as the Declaration of Independence. It marked the first time in the known history of the world that one people peaceably, with a written document, declared their independence from another government under which they had been living.
This document listed a number of complaints they felt were justified in the conduct of the affairs by the other government towards them.  Since that time, the date has been celebrated as Independence Day.
Every one of the signers lost their lives, families, fortunes, properties and/or freedoms at the hands of the British during the battles that followed.
At the time, there was an extended period, often months, for communication with the ruling country, England.  The Declaration is a wonder in its clarity and brevity.  In all previous history, when separation was decided, arms were picked up and battle began.
Upon receipt of the Declaration by the king, orders were given to “put down this revolution” with any means available.  Troops on hand were reinforced and naval forces dispatched.
Thus began the War for Independence, often mistakenly called the Revolutionary War.  This war lasted for several years and was won, even though over half of the ‘colonists’ were not supportive of the effort.
It was won by a dedicated and brilliant leader, George Washington, who stayed with his troops under trying conditions, and the superior marksmanship of the troops who had honed those skills in the forests and fields as hunters.
There was major assistance from the French, as they were in dispute with the British and hoped that this would provide a diversion to give them an upper hand.  One of their nobility, The Marquis de Lafayette, on his own and at his own expense, chose to come to the “new world” and assist in the fight for freedom.  For his service he was granted honorary citizenship in the new nation thus established.
It was the military practice of the time for troops to line up shoulder to shoulder and march towards the enemy in open fields and take the fire from the muskets of the enemy, with those dropping being replaced as the company moved forward.
Rather stupid in my opinion.
Those who chose to join in the defense of the Declaration chose instead to climb trees and use other means of protection and aim at the officers in charge of the troops.
When those officers at the rear were taken out, the troops then without leaders to command often would break and run.  This same situation has assisted those fighting for the United States of America, the nation that resulted, in subsequent wars, as those free men were used to using their minds to solve problems confronting them, whereas those of our enemies are so imbued with blind obedience to their commanders that they are unable to function without them.
After victory was obtained, the thirteen colonies convened a Constitutional Convention to supposedly write modifications to the Articles of Confederation that had governed the colonies during the conflict.  There were representatives sent from each of the thirteen states and they met during the hot summer to hammer out the results.  Instead of modifications, they came up with what we know as the Constitution.
There was much disagreement to be overcome and  George Washington was elected to be the chairman of the meetings.  It is recorded that he was a physical giant of a man for the time, standing about 6-4, when the average height of a man was about 5-6.
He also appears to have been a consummate diplomat, being able to keep calm and civility in the deliberations
In any event, they ultimately hammered out an acceptable document to be sent to the representatives of the thirteen colonies for adoption.  It was soon determined that there was something lacking and there were twelve additional items written, which we call the Bill of Rights, to guarantee certain rights to the citizens and sovereign states that were considered to be “ordained by God.”  Ten of these were adopted immediately and are known as the Bill of Rights.  The other two were not adopted (ratified) until some time later, but are now a part of the Constitution, as amended.  Upon the adjournment it is reported that a woman asked Benjamin Franklin, one of the delegates, “what have you given us?” and he is said to have replied, “a Republic, if you can keep it.”
Since that time, there has been a steady series of attempts to water it down and/or ignore the limitations contained in it.  Everyone should take the time and effort to read both the Declaration and Constitution.
Unfortunately, in my consideration, this is not required reading in the schools, in fact it is not in my memory that it was required in the 1930s or 1940s at any level of education.
Like the Declaration, the Constitution is a marvel of brevity and clarity and is relatively easy to understand and so is not a difficult read.  If this was done, perhaps many of these attempts to change for the worse would go nowhere.  Unfortunately, many of the changes are occurring as interpretations by a socialist-oriented judiciary that seems determined to legislate from the bench in direct violation of the terms of the document.
Speaking of the brevity of the Constitution, it has amazed and amused me that the state constitutions are, for the most part, direct opposites in brevity and clarity.  Acquaintances have furnished me with copies of the state constitutions of Missouri and Pennsylvania and both are many times the size of the U.S. Constitution.  Unfortunately, the government of the State of Oklahoma has not seen fit, in over one hundred years since its adoption, to have the Constitution prepared and printed for distribution, as have other states.  In fact, members of the Legislature have informed me that there is no printed copy of it and its parts are interspersed in the laws made by statute in the books published for lawyers.  Information coming to me is that, at long last, an organization known as OK-SAFE is attempting to assemble the Oklahoma Constitution in preparation for publication as a public service.
Unfortunately, we now have a president and Congressional majority along with the judiciary that seems determined to terminate the protections of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness that were guaranteed to be protected by the government.  It has been too long that our population has become soft and wishing to trade the freedom for “security” which can only come at the expense of slavery.
Wake up citizens of the United States!

This entry was posted on Thursday, July 2nd, 2009 and is filed under Columns.