“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. 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.”
Each year in schools around the country, students are taught about The Declaration of Independence. Though I believe wholeheartedly that we should no longer be governing based on items written well over two hundred years ago, these statements seem more thought provoking today than ever before.
We always here about Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness, but what about the statement that it is the right of the people to alter or abolish as to effect Safety and Happiness?
Safety and Happiness….
Don’t we deserve at least that much?
What a shame it is that because of our lenient gun laws those beautiful children of Newtown (nor people in a shopping mall or those who want to watch a movie in a theatre) are not allowed their own unalienable Rights of Safety and Happiness. What a shame it is that in the eyes of our governing body our babies are not worth more than a gun.
Our society is out of control.
When the declaration of independence was written guns were not used to shoot six-year-olds at will or shoppers at a mall or attendees of a movie. Long gone are the days where a hall monitor kept students safe from harm. We live in a much different world now; a world that requires restricted gun control and open dialogue with those who need our help. Our world will remain a scary place to live unless both issues are resolved.
Why are we not helping those who need it before they take such harmful and irrational measures? Why do we glorify issues that give irrational people the idea that hurting themselves or others is the answer? Why are we allowing anyone not involved in law enforcement or military defense to own a gun? Why does our governing body think that the right to own a gun is more valuable than the right to go to the mall, the movies or to school without being shot? When will it be enough to make a change for the better in this country?
Safety and Happiness – Don’t we all deserve at least that much?
Well said, my friend. Well said.
Thanks, Amy.