- Motto of the State of Ohio
Blogs by JaneDeeter
Some Thoughts on the Declaration of Independence
Every July we celebrate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, and our thoughts turn to parades and picnics, family and fireworks. However, we should pause to reflect upon the document that is at the heart of it all. Some on the Left maintain this document is little more than a litany of complaints that the colonists directed towards England - of historical interest only. Actually, it is just as relevant today as it was when pen was first put to paper in 1776. It was the philosophical blueprint of the nature of the government our Founding Fathers planned to create once they were free from Great Britain - a timeless examination of the proper relationship between government and the individual.
So, let us examine some of the salient points made in this "Expression of the American Mind."
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal." All persons are equal in the eyes of God; we are all equal in our humanity.
"...that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights..." Our rights come from God, NOT from other people. No other mortal, acting either as an individual or as part of a government, can take away these rights. Government cannot legitimately grant or rescind rights. [Relevance to today: When Obama Care was passed, many on the Left crowed about how Congress had enacted a historic expansion of rights (the so-called "right to health care"). Health care, as is any other material good or service, is NOT a right, because it is not self-contained - it infringes on the true rights of other people [more on that below]. Government does not grant rights.
"...that among these [Rights] are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." Let us take these one at a time.
2010 C.E. (Christianity Excluded)
Any change in the way information is presented should enhance our understanding. If it replaces a system that is already widely understood and functional, and the change itself requires an explanation, it detracts.
One of my pet peeves in the Culture War is the use of B.C.E./C.E. (that is, "Before the Common Era"/"Common Era") in place of B.C./A.D. ("Before Christ"/"Anno Domini" (in the year of the Lord)). In other words, it replaces the references to Christianity with a bland, non-descript label that few are familiar with and which doesn't add anything to the history lesson associated with the date. (What exactly does "Common Era" mean? What is "common" to it?) Authors who use this designation (B.C.E. or C.E.) commonly (pardon the pun) insert an explanation as to what the abbrevation stands for. Of course, had they simply used the old familiar B.C. or A.D., no one would have needed an explanation in the first place.
Liberal Hypocrisy - An Explanation?
I have been trying to get my head around how progressives think. One of the biggest sticking points we conservatives have with progressives is hypocrisy. Liberals frequently seem to have a double standard when it comes to conservatives (and I must admit it drives us conservatives nuts).
