"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created

[texpatriot2004]

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..."

I love the Declaration of Independence, don't you?

[UrbScotty]

1. Yep!

:-)

[Az]

2. Its a great document. A work of art really

:applause:

[FreedomAngel82]

Most definitley

More people should read it. *sigh*

[texpatriot2004]

10. I think so too. A work of art Divinely inspired. n/t

[jobycom]

3. Yep. For a while it looked like we might try to live up to it.

[mestup]

4. It's great, but...

...I wish it would have incorporated the kind of language found in Canada's Constitution Act: "peace, order, and good government."

"life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" has always sounded a little arbitrary and Lifestyles-of-The-Rich-and-Famous to me.

We're sorely lacking "good government" these days.

[countmyvote4real]

5. I know this is cheesy, but this was my conduit to beauty of the DOI.

The Fifth Dimension. Check it out before you scoff. It still inspires me.

Disc 2, Cut 4

I especially love the part about tyrants, but that's not in this online sample. No matter, it's in the DOI.

[mestup]

6. "a change is gonna come!" n/t

[countmyvote4real]

7. High Joy shared.

And that is my favorate.

http://www.towerrecords.com/product.aspx?pfid=1185994

[mestup]

12. The absolute BEST collection all around! n/t

[texpatriot2004]

9. Check what out? Is there a link? n/t

[OneBlueSky]

8. maybe the BushCo criminals should read this . . .

but then again, it wouldn't affect them one iota . . . they simply don't care about anything other than themselves and corporate profits . . .

[mestup]

14. That's not true. They wanna give tax "relief" to the rich!

:sarcasm:

[Selatius]

11. We live under a government that behaves as if only one party rules

It's the Corporatist Party, and everybody who takes such a large amount of corporate donations that it begins affecting their judgment is a member of the Party.

[texpatriot2004]

13. Yes, that sums it up, doesn't it, The Corporatist Party or in other

words, the GOP aka Greedy Ole Partisans. Just joking. I think the GOP was hijacked by the neoconster gang who favors the corporations as you suggest.

[mestup]

15. You nailed it!

I can remember a time when it felt like there were actually two separate parties.

Not now.

It seems that nowadays you're labeled "extreme left" if you think we should have a single-payer healthcare plan.

:eyes:

[texpatriot2004]

16. kick it n/t

[Zynx]

17. I miss the Enlightenment. ;-)

I was reading in my Modern British History(1688-present) a couple nights ago about the Enlightenment and I became profoundly saddened at what has happened to people since then. We no longer seem to care about whether we can make lives better in this world and we seem to be entirely focused on our own well beings. There are no great principles guiding human progress anymore, it would seem.

[prairierose]

18. Me too....

I miss the idea that we are all responsible for taking care of each other and the planet. I miss the idea that ideas are good. I miss the idea that discussion is good. I miss the idea that rational thought is a good thing.

I miss the idea as well as the reality of a "working press". The idea that the presses job is to inform the people of government's doings. That the people are responsible for informing themselves of the issues of the day and whether the government that they elected is actually doing the job that they were elected to do.

The enlightenment moved the world forward in ways that had never been dreamt of and now with the murder of ideas, what used to be the US is moving back to a very dark place.

[Lisa]

19. unfortunately, it's not self-evident to people like *

They need constant reminding ...

[texpatriot2004]

20. Yes, we must constantly remind them n/t