On July 4th, 1776, a final written Declaration was issued in Philadelphia telling the people of North America and the entire world that patient, ordinary people had finally reached the breaking point. To me, the most significant paragraph in that Declaration of Independence is the following:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. 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 to these ends, IT IS THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE TO ALTER OR TO ABOLISH IT,[my italics]and to institute a 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."
Freedom demands eternal vigilance. Freedom demands a People having the courage and means to "alter or abolish" governments when all else fails. And, the truest statement ever made is one that echoes through the Hallways of Time...
FREEDOM IS NEVER FREE.
Happy Birthday United States of America. Happy Birthday to Freedom-Loving People all over the World.