The Most Fantastic Idea

The “Idea” of the greatness of America.

National Archives Catalog

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.

Think about that for a minute. Just think of it. A land, a country, where the will of the people governed, the will of the people established the government’s power to protect the people from tyranny and oppression. If the government became the oppressors, we have the ability to alter or abolish it and institute a new government.

This idea for a free land, not free from the rule of law but free from tyranny and oppression. The people would be free to live as they saw fit and be happy and prosper to grow themselves and their families without the threat of despotism or injustice. I read these words now, and I think, “wow, where is it, where is this amazing place”.. and it is then that I am forced to remember that it is here, it is this place.

Daily there is evidence of injustice, despotism, oppression in almost every aspect of our lives as Americans, whether it is from under-trained law enforcement disproportionately violent to specific segments of the American people based on race, color, creed, sexual orientation, or mental health status throughout our country, or despotic and apathetic leaders on both sides of the aisle in the highest levels of our government, to calling the police with false accusations about a birdwatcher.

We are now committing the atrocities committed on us that caused us to form an entirely new country on ourselves. These villainies now make appearances in our everyday lives. For some of the people of this country, this is nothing new, but the way it has always been.

I believe we can change it. I believe we can be the dream that we want to become, a land with a government elected by the people and for the good and protection and prosperity of all the people, a land where every single person is endowed with certain unalienable rights, a land where injustice and oppression are relics of our past mistakes, that we must face and defeat. A land where you can marry whom you love, where you can be yourself, where you can freely make decisions about your own body, where all of the opportunity that the land has to offer is equally accessible, where you can live without fear. I believe in America.