A friend in Italy recently read the American Declaration of Independence and asked
me for my comments and insights. I replied with the following letter:
As far as I know the "Declaration of Independence" is still taught in every classroom
in America. A short essay, written largely by Thomas Jefferson, the third President of
the United States, it outlines our grievances against the King of England and declares
our independence from his rule.
The signers of that historic document knew when they signed it, that they were
putting their fortunes and lives at great risk. The first signer, John Hancock wrote
his name in large bold script so that it wouldn't be missed by anyone in the British
Ministry. "There,” he said, “ I guess King George will be able to read that!"
You are right, Gian, America is a great nation, and what makes us great are men
like Thomas Jefferson, John Hancock, George Washington, John Adams,
Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, Abraham Lincoln,
Teddy Roosevelt, and many other brave men and women—past and present—
willing to put their lives and fortunes on the line in the cause of freedom and justice.
They were—as we are--sons and daughters of immigrants from every country in
the world.
Americans are people of the world: German, Italian, French, English, Irish, Japanese,
Chinese, Korean, Arab, Russian, Philippine, Vietnamese, Burmese, Iranian, African,
Spanish, Greek, and more. To be American is not a claim to a new race, but an idea,
a belief, that every man, woman and child on this planet has a right to pursue their
individual destinies in freedom and peace, unencumbered by the weight of oppressive
government, or the self righteous intolerance of most religions.
We as a people still need these institutions in our lives; yet, any government or religion
not actively engaged in the protection of our individual liberties, and in fostering an
atmosphere that would give us the opportunity to achieve our full potential as free
thinking human beings, must be questioned and held accountable for its omissions.
For, when government and religion fail in their responsibilities, all “Americans”
(that is, everyone in the world who shares these beliefs) must speak out as bravely
against tyranny as did the signers of the “Declaration of Independence.”
me for my comments and insights. I replied with the following letter:
As far as I know the "Declaration of Independence" is still taught in every classroom
in America. A short essay, written largely by Thomas Jefferson, the third President of
the United States, it outlines our grievances against the King of England and declares
our independence from his rule.
The signers of that historic document knew when they signed it, that they were
putting their fortunes and lives at great risk. The first signer, John Hancock wrote
his name in large bold script so that it wouldn't be missed by anyone in the British
Ministry. "There,” he said, “ I guess King George will be able to read that!"
You are right, Gian, America is a great nation, and what makes us great are men
like Thomas Jefferson, John Hancock, George Washington, John Adams,
Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, Abraham Lincoln,
Teddy Roosevelt, and many other brave men and women—past and present—
willing to put their lives and fortunes on the line in the cause of freedom and justice.
They were—as we are--sons and daughters of immigrants from every country in
the world.
Americans are people of the world: German, Italian, French, English, Irish, Japanese,
Chinese, Korean, Arab, Russian, Philippine, Vietnamese, Burmese, Iranian, African,
Spanish, Greek, and more. To be American is not a claim to a new race, but an idea,
a belief, that every man, woman and child on this planet has a right to pursue their
individual destinies in freedom and peace, unencumbered by the weight of oppressive
government, or the self righteous intolerance of most religions.
We as a people still need these institutions in our lives; yet, any government or religion
not actively engaged in the protection of our individual liberties, and in fostering an
atmosphere that would give us the opportunity to achieve our full potential as free
thinking human beings, must be questioned and held accountable for its omissions.
For, when government and religion fail in their responsibilities, all “Americans”
(that is, everyone in the world who shares these beliefs) must speak out as bravely
against tyranny as did the signers of the “Declaration of Independence.”
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