I Will Not Sit Down!

I sometimes feel a bit like John Adams in this scene. Is anybody there? Does anybody care? Does anybody see what I see?

I have read various accounts of the history behind our independence and the Declaration of Independence.  Carl Becker's classic work is a very readable discussion of natural rights philosophy and the political theory of the British Empire.  It then goes on to a somewhat tedious literary analysis and a final chapter that isn't that good.  Still a worthwhile effort.

Danielle Allen also has a very helpful and thought-provoking "reading" of the document.  People have used the document in various ways over the years, including to promote libertarianism, anti-abortion principles, a Christian view of God, and progressive thought.  All are incomplete and misguided in some fashion.  For instance, I agree that Juneteenth is a better celebration of liberty.  It is an appropriate fact we have two holidays.  

Before the expanded Twitter limits I summarised it this way:

It's obvious. We are equal and have a bunch of rights. Just government protects them. George hasn't. Bunch of reasons. So bye. God help us. 

One liberal law professor reminded people that the Declaration of Independence is not very liberal ways.  True. It speaks of "Indian savages."  It is upset about the Quebec Act, which was passed to accommodate French Catholics.  It is mad that England tried to (at least temporarily) form a buffer zone via the Proclamation of 1763.  The recognition (ala Abraham Lincoln) that the document was an idealistic statement, not a declaration of the here and now as is does not change its flaws.   

What else is new?  A totally unblemished holiday, especially one that honors a political event, is hard to come by.  Do you want to speak of one honoring the birth or resurrection of Jesus Christ?  I put aside the reality of the situation there.  But, the holiday movies alone suggest the holidays are filled with imperfections.  We celebrate them all the same.  

A final note.  The actual declaration of independence was voted on July 2nd. John Adams actually thought that would be the big day of celebration.  But, it is far from surprising that we turned out to celebrate a day that honors a document filled with the ideas and values behind independence.  That is a basic part of who we are as a country.   

Adams and Jefferson died on the same day 50 years after the Declaration of Independence was agreed upon.  A lesser-known fact was that a few years later, James Monroe died on the same day.  Ending things, James Madison died a few days before.  He knew when something was played out.