The opening words of this document are famous: “When in the Course of human events, it
becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have
connected them with another.” The
Deity is invoked in the form of “the Laws
of Nature and of Nature's God.” Then come these familiar 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.--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.”
Those words are well-known. I was not so familiar with the
list of 27 grievances that the founding fathers had against King George. They
are called “a long train of abuses and
usurpations.” The final one caught my attention: “He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured
to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages,
whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages,
sexes and conditions.”
I wonder how those of Native American descent would feel
about the public reading of these words as a part of this country’s celebration
of freedom and equality. Personally I would feel uncomfortable using the words
“merciless Indian Savages” and
accusing them of “undistinguished
destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.” It feels tone deaf. The
same accusation could be made about the American government’s treatment of the
indigenous peoples of North America.
Then there is the condemnation of “domestic insurrections.” Historically this refers to both “Indian”
and slave revolts in the 18th century. Apparently our founding
fathers did not think that Native Americans and African Americans had the right
to revolt against unjust American government. These Americans were not included
in those who “are created equal, that
they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights.”
The African slave connection is particularly relevant today
in our racially charged environment and the present uproar about Critical Race
Theory. The author of the Declaration,
Thomas Jefferson, was himself an infamous slave owner. In fact a passage
condemning slavery was omitted from the final draft of the Declaration. Those who sought independence for themselves were not
willing to extend that right to African slaves.
The term “insurrection” cannot be heard these days without thinking of the January 6 attack upon the U.S. Capitol. Insurrection is not a designation assigned to the event by journalists. Many participants in the attack saw it as exactly that. January 6 was their “1776 moment.” 1776 has become a symbol used by the Far Right. For example, the Proud Boys have an online shop for thier merchandise named "1776."
My holiday reading of the Declaration of Independence has
turned into more than just a patriotic moment for me. Hearing it read aloud by friends
and townspeople in our town square felt like a spiritual experience. Perhaps it
was because it was Sunday morning. When I returned home I meditated upon what freedom
means for each generation and every person, racial group, and minority group in
America.
Reflection on the Declaration of Independence needs to be more than old white men like me expressing gratitude for the freedoms that we have historically enjoyed. It means guaranteeing that the “unalienable Rights” of “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” are extended to all people in this great country. The Declaration of Independence is not a onetime declaration. It is an ongoing revolution.
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