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Independence Day and Its Meaning for Americans Today

On July 4, 1776, John Hancock signed our Declaration of Independence. Others joined him is signing it on August 2 of the same year. The second paragraph began with these now famous words, "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 the pursuit of happiness.

Two phrases immediately leap out: all men are created equal' and life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.' What awesome words to fall on the ears of an oppressed people. How they must have made hearts leap with joy when heard. Where else but in America could such a thing dare to be dreamed of, let alone acted on?

With the speaking of these words, our long journey as a nation began. We learned that freedom is not free but comes at a high price, paid for in blood of men and women who want it more than anything else. Hard battles were fought and hard lessons were learned; as we finally understood that "all men are created equal" meant just that; "all men."

Not just the rich, the educated, the white or the titled, but the poor, the illiterate, the black and those who never knew a father also. Our ideal was that if God gave these rights to all men, then so should we. It took a long time for us to see the hypocrisy in our hearts. We still struggle with it but we did finally see and it made us stronger as a nation.

ARE WE PERFECT?

Yes, there are those who still hold to their antiquated belief systems that some are better by virtue of birth, color or religion. There are those who whine and complain about how unfair things are in this country because they do not realize that nothing is perfect and that not all people can be pleased at all times and that the majority rules.

We do have some big problems facing us today as a country, high taxes, our involvement in Middle East conflicts, inadequate health care for low-income families, political leaders unfit to hold office, gang violence, dark shadows of racism, a broken welfare system and a threatened Social Security system.

No one can deny that we are not perfect but neither can it be denied that we do have a more just and humane legal system, form of government, and laws that apply to all. We are one nation, united in our goals for a better way of life than any other nation can offer.

Nowhere else on earth can a man born out of wedlock in the depths of poverty, rise to be anything

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