"We hold these truths to be self-evident,

[walldude]

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.

— That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

— Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world."

That is all...

[elizfeelinggreat]

1. thank you

This hits a nerve ....


"all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed."

[stellanoir]

2. Yeah but psssssssssst . . . now corporate power has more rights than those of the individuals

and that just plain sucks.

on edit- to add a consonant

[elizfeelinggreat]

3. but does

more power equal more rights? Or just the appearance of more rights ?

[stellanoir]

6. tell it to the * appointed judge

[elizfeelinggreat]

8. you're trying to depress me

aren't you?

I know you have a point and that it does just plain suck. :(

Still I would like to read this over and over, as often as necessary, to remind myself and others that we do have something worth fighting for.

[stellanoir]

9. never would I ever try to depress you

I'm only trying to encourage mindfulness of what we are up against.

[ChazII]

4. We need to be

reminded that our rights do not come from the gov't or corporations. Thanks for this thread.

[Glorfindel]

5. all *Anglo-Saxon Protestant Christian heterosexual male human beings

who are above the age of 21 years, own property, and are literate in the English language* are created equal...

[zanne]

7. Sad, isn't it? nt

[Glorfindel]

10. Well, we're actually better now than then

so I guess the long-term outlook is brighter. I meant my post to show that even a relatively enlightened man of his times (Thomas Jefferson) would take it for granted that only white Christian men (who met certain other criteria) had "rights." :)

[Individualist]

11. "...it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government..."

Maybe it's time to send every one in Congress a copy of the Declaration.

[walldude]

12. Self serving kick...