The Declaration of Independence

Today we celebrate our nations independence from colonial rule of England. This is the 230th anniversary of when a brave group of men made public their Declaration of Independence which spelled out the specific grievances. We should pause to remember that the words on that piece of paper, while powerful and moving, did not assure freedom or victory. Those men and the thousands who followed their lead risked their lives and fortunes over the next decade. The real strength of the declaration is it's unifying force on the colonies by grouping the various complaints and concerns to demonstrate that this was not a matter only affecting one region but all the American colonies. Here is the first paragraph, read the rest and as you do keep in mind this action was not taken lightly as these words were written by men who all their lives considered themselves to be British.

When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.