IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of AmericaWhen in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolvethe political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among thepowers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Natureand of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankindrequires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.(Words in italics/ parentheses are mine,others by, Thomas Jefferson, and we shouldheed these words again, today)We hold these truths to be self-evident,(That is what they knew was true)that all men are created equal,(And they all knew this, too)that they are endowed by their Creatorwith certain unalienable Rights,(That Freedom, is for all peopleand for what, a brave man, fights)that among these are Life, Libertyand the pursuit of Happiness.(The citizens of our Nationfought for, their rightful redress)That to secure these rights,(We will do what we must)Governments are instituted among Men,(A government, we can trust)deriving their just powersfrom the consent of the governed,(It’s, we, the people who will ruleThat’s not, what we have learned)That whenever any Form of Government(Think they rule the Land)becomes destructive of these ends,(We, the people, will take a stand)it is the Right of the People(What, our Constitution decrees)to alter or to abolish it,(Before, they bring us to our knees)and to institute new Government,(we can vote all of them out)laying its foundation on such principles(What our Country is about)and organizing its powers in such form,(To what the people will)as to them shall seem most likely(Duties, they must fulfill)to effect their Safety and Happiness.(So, we shall not regress)Prudence, indeed, will dictate(Be careful, what is changed!)that Governments long established(When needed, rearranged)should not be changedfor light and transient causes;(that our quest for our Rights
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