Belated 4th of July Blog

You may know that John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died on July 4th, 1826, the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the signing of our Declaration of Independence. Invited as 2 of only 3 surviving "signers," both did not attend the festivities in Washington - not, I would venture to guess, out of lack of desire, but due to failing health, or perhaps out of a sated satisfaction from the role they had played.

Thomas Jefferson, in this final public offering published all over the country, wrote of the 4th of July:

"May it be to the world, what I believe it will be (to some parts sooner, to others later, but finally to all) the signal of arousing men to burst the chains under which monkish ignorance and superstition had persuaded them to bind themselves, and to assume the blessings and security of self-government.... All eyes are opened or opening to the rights of man. The general spread of the light of science has already laid open to every view the palpable truth, that the mass of mankind has not been born with saddles on their backs, nor a favored few, booted and spurred, ready to ride them legitimately by the grace of God. These are the grounds of hope for others; for ourselves, let the annual return to this day forever refresh our recollections of these rights, and an undiminished devotion to them."

I'm reminded of the struggle for democracy going on in Iraq, of those countless individuals around the world who secretly yearn for self-government. I'm reminded of the G8 leaders meeting in Scotland to discuss their obligations to a world starkly devoid of the promises of peace and stability that accompanied the birth of the United Nations half a century ago.

For how many of us was this 4th of July such a day as Jefferson wished it to be for all future generations of Americans, a day to reflect on the blessings of liberty and on the rights we reluctantly but eventually enthusiastically went to war for? In the Declaration of Independence we are reminded that the purpose of government is to protect the rights of the people. With what confidence can we declare our government has fulfilled this sacred obligation?

I have recently finished a brilliant biography of John Adams by David McCullough (a Christmas gift - thanks Mom!). It has done much to inspire me personally but also to inform my general philosophy around the purposes and bold promises of our nation. I'm determined now to study my way through the biographies of our founding fathers and, in turn, the birth of the United States, so that when others wrap themselves in the flag and declare their intent to be for the good of the people, I can have some solid footing with the boldness of our own country's revolutionary heroes at my back.