Self Evident Truths

                                     

WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS...

                             By  Atticus  Finch

Nervously standing in my office was a lad of thirteen, dressed uncomfortably, no doubt more formal than he had intended. Out of deference to his mother, he had combed his hair, put on a pair of pressed khaki pants and collared shirt for his interview with a lawyer.  His purpose was to discuss governmental affairs, qualifying him for a Citizenship in the Community merit badge.  After I dispensed with the obligatory small talk, I began an inquiry designed to elicit from the young man whether essential aspects of the makeup and purpose of our government were being taught in the public schools.

“Where do our rights as citizens of the United States of America originate?” I inquired.  The lad stammered blushed and then with a look of confidence answered: “Our rights come from our government.”  He was mistaken, but sadly, his answer revealed how most Americans think of their essential liberties.  Given a second opportunity, the Boy Scout gave a better answer.  “Our liberties originate from our Constitution and Bill of Rights!” he proclaimed. He seemed disappointed as I explained that he again failed to answer correctly.  Not wanting to risk further confusion, I asked him to read with me the words of the Declaration of Independence.

“We hold these truths to be self evident” wrote Thomas Jefferson, “that all men are created equal and are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, among which are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”  “Our rights then,” I explained, “originate from our Creator.”  Imagine that.  The government of the United States and our rights as citizens originate from God.  At least in 1776, this basic principle of government was self evident.  To the founders of our nation, the God, whom some Americans today want removed from all aspects of government, is the self evident originator of our rights as citizens. 


These natural rights are derived from the common understanding of civilized man and were so universally accepted, that Thomas Jefferson did not pause to offer any justification for their application to the citizens of this country. 


It is self evident that freedom is not confined within our borders anymore than the God who deigns them into existence can distinguish between, American and Spaniard; Britain and Frenchman; Chinese and Egyptian. History has shown that freedom can be trampled by tyrants and stolen away by totalitarian systems of government.  Still within the very essence of the human spirit indwells sparks of liberty, the respect for life and the desire to live in freedom. It is a fire within the soul of mankind - independent of government for its sustenance.

What then is the purpose of government?  Once again the answer can be found from the words of Thomas Jefferson:  “that to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just power from the consent of the governed…”  “Understand this,” I declared to the young Boy Scout, “our rights are ordained by God; Governments are created by men for the express purpose of protecting these God-given rights.”  The founders felt so strongly about the sanctity of this basic premise of natural law that violation of it became the justification for the Revolution that gave birth to the United States of America: “[T]hat whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it…”  Constant vigilance and eager participation in government is the responsibility of all citizens - for without which our birthright as free people is always at risk.

Our liberty, our respect for life, our entrepreneurial economy, our standard of living, our free association among fellow citizens, our respect for human rights, and our freedom to worship or ignore the God from whom these rights originate are not creations of some legislature or city council.  They cannot be established by reference to some administrative code or proclamation from some governmental functionary. These rights are burned into the very soul of man by the same finger that wrote the Ten Commandments, healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, defeated death with a glorious resurrection and touches even now the souls of men everywhere.  While many citizens misunderstand the basic tenets of our Republic, there is at least one government official who does not need a civics lesson.  “Americans are free people” proclaimed George W. Bush, “who know that freedom is the right of every person and the future of every nation.  The liberty we prize is not America’s gift to the world; it is God’s gift to humanity.”