Causes And Necessity

On July 6, 1775 the Second Continental Congress issued a "Declaration Of The Causes And Necessity Of Taking Up Arms" against the mother country. I had never read it, but it is just as remarkable as our other founding documents and it deserves your time. Read it.

The first draft of the Declaration was penned by Thomas Jefferson, but was thought to be a tad too militant. That sounds like Jefferson. Next, Colonel John Dickinson gave it a try. The final version is thought to be a combination of the two. This is my favorite paragraph:

Our cause is just. Our union is perfect. Our internal resources are great, and, if necessary, foreign assistance is undoubtedly attainable. -- We gratefully acknowledge, as signal instances of the Divine favour towards us, that his Providence would not permit us to be called into this severe controversy, until we were grown up to our present strength, had been previously exercised in warlike operation, and possessed of the means of defending ourselves. With hearts fortified with these animating reflections, we most solemnly, before God and the world, declare, that, exerting the utmost energy of those powers, which our beneficent Creator hath graciously bestowed upon us, the arms we have been compelled by our enemies to assume, we will, in defiance of every hazard, with unabating firmness and perseverence, employ for the preservation of our liberties; being with one mind resolved to die freemen rather than to live slaves.

Americans are born of good stock - not of body but of spirit. In low moments though, I sometimes wonder if that spirit isn't waning. I see Americans who cannot appreciate the good without lamenting and wallowing in the bad. I see Americans who are openly hostile to their birthright. I see Americans that seem more willing to live in subjugation to a false peace rather than defend their unalienable rights.

Thankfully, the good moments are far more numerous though. It's been a bumpy 230 year ride but we are still here as freemen and the resolve, perseverence, energy and defiance the Founding Fathers saw is still strong.

God bless America.