Two hundred and 36 years ago today (just about), the Declaration of Independence was signed. In many ways, that document and the thinking behind it, represented the culmination of centuries of Western thought. The signers were all men of classical education, seeking to reestablish a form of government that had been practiced back in the ancient days of Greece and Rome. One in which the people had a great say in the policies of government. But also, drawing on their experiences mostly in Great Britain, where they would have certain rights that were beyond the reach of any king or ruler.
The Declaration of Independence and it's follow up works, the Constitution and some of the Federalist Papers, come up on the list in November. I'm wishing that they had fallen in July but it didn't quite work that way. September brings about Locke and Rousseau, October has sections of Gibbon's 'Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire', all of which deal with questions of government. I'm sure that order will make the most sense.
Still, take a minute today and appreciate the mental effort that the Founders took to create the best state that they could. They pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor and for some, they paid the ultimate price. We owe them much.
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