Today we remember our country\u2019s most significant Declaration\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2026 We hold these truths to be self-evident\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s no need to explain; it\u2019s obvious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2026 that all men are created equal\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Men, women, humankind \u2014 equal in value. There should be no discrimination, partiality, or bias. Let\u2019s be honest; we haven\u2019t always done this well. But we don\u2019t need to erase, cancel, or attempt to rewrite history. We need to learn<\/em> from it. What will future generations say about us? What errors in our current thinking will they find need to correct? <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2026 that they are endowed by their Creator\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n We acknowledge the great big God of the universe \u2014 who He is and who we are not. Some days I wonder if that\u2019s our most grievous, national error\u2026 that in our intentional effort to separate Church and State \u2014 not wanting the Church to impose its moral code upon all \u2014 we\u2019ve enabled the State to believe it’s capable of establishing a moral code.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2026 with certain unalienable rights\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Indeed. They can\u2019t be taken away. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2026 that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness\u2026 <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Our existence. Our freedom. And our pursuit of what makes us happy. It\u2019s important to distinguish between the \u201cpursuit of happiness\u201d and \u201chappiness\u201d itself. There are no guarantees we will be happy. In fact, it humbles me to profess that some of my greatest learnings in life have come from the saddest of times. Troubles and trials help us learn perseverance. Perseverance is a mark of the mature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2026 That, to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Exactly. The people have a say. No politician needs to be puffed up \u2014 to think they are so necessary. No party, either \u2014 as last I checked the news, no political party has yet to corner the market on honesty, integrity, and compromise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the 4th of July, we celebrate many things \u2014 especially now that the days of COVID have at least temporarily waned\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n That celebration makes me feel a little patriotic. True, that\u2019s an emotionally charged term these days. People use it for everything from a more nationalist stance to a stance on a podium protesting our anthem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For me it means being a little more grateful\u2026 for truth, equality, our Creator, life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, and all the people around me I get to freely do life with and pursue that happiness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I support our country not because it\u2019s always been perfect or ever will be; we will always have things to learn. I support our country also not because we\u2019re so good at empathizing and always getting along.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No, I support our country because 245 years ago, we declared what is good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Happy Independence Day, friends\u2026 hope it’s happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Respectfully\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n AR Today we remember our country\u2019s most significant Declaration\u2026 \u2026 We hold these truths to be self-evident\u2026 There\u2019s no need to explain; it\u2019s obvious. \u2026 that all men are created equal\u2026 Men, women, humankind \u2014 equal in value. There should be no discrimination, partiality, or bias. Let\u2019s be honest; we haven\u2019t always done this well. But … <\/p>\n
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