The subtitle of this segment could well have been “Happy Birthday America…for yesterday,” but hey, the thirteen colonies actually declared independence from Great Britain on July 2, 1776, while the document itself of the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4. So hey, all in the spirit, and such.
It is difficult to find a more fitting example of the principle of natural law; the idea that certain moral principles are inherent, unchanging and universal, and can be ascertained by reason. Likewise, the Declaration of Independence features central tenets of classical liberalism: that rights are bestowed upon humans by virtue simply of their existence; rights are not bestowed upon humans by government; that government may not infringe upon human rights; and that government exists only to protect human rights.
That is the meaning behind the following passage:
“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.”
This is the moral core, the fundamental difference, between classical liberalism and socialism – under socialism, rights are bestowed by government, and the individual is subservient to the state. Under natural law, classical liberalism, and as stated so beautifully by the Declaration of Independence, the individual – you – are the sole master of your destiny.
The full document is well worth the read.
http://stlplaces.com/declaration.html
So to America, we say thank you, and happy (belated, we have had a bit of stuff going on down-under) birthday, and to the US Declaration of Independence, The XYZ bestows Quote of the Day.
It’s your XYZ.
Photo by The U.S. National Archives