Words From The Warden
Reflecting On The Declaration Of Independence
I recently read an article reporting that only 26% of Americans have ever read the Declaration of Independence. That statistic is a sobering reflection on civic awareness today.
The Declaration was unique because it did more than announce America’s separation from the English government. It also articulated, for the first time in such a founding document, the belief that fundamental principles of human rights and self-governance come from God.
Never before in the annals of history had a government been founded on individual rights and on the right of people to govern themselves collectively.
The Declaration of Independence was drafted and adopted by our Founding Fathers. Their lives, character, and insights on subjects such as love and marriage, work and play, piety and justice remain as meaningful today as they were in 1776.
These men had great ambitions as they founded a great new nation. Their example raises an important question for us: Is it still possible to reach the high standard set by our Founders?
We may not be able to meet every standard they established, but we can still raise our sights. We can strive for stronger patriotism and national greatness, a proper relationship between God and mankind, and a better way of treating one another.
At the same time, the Founders were not angels. They understood human weakness and acknowledged that, if men were angels, there would be no need for government.
Many of the Founders were deeply flawed. Benjamin Franklin fathered an illegitimate son, George Washington was known for his violent temper, Alexander Hamilton was involved in a notorious extramarital affair, and several—including Washington, Jefferson, and Madison—held enslaved people. Their contradictions are important to remember. Even as they advanced the cause of liberty, some participated in practices that violated the very principles for which they fought.
When people are asked to recite a portion of the Declaration of Independence, they often recall the words that “all men are created equal” and that everyone is entitled to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” As we celebrate 250 years of independence, we must also acknowledge that we have not lived up to those ideals.
Like the Founders before us, we may strive to live lives of virtue yet still fall short. When we do, we should not give in to despair. Instead, we should recognize the need to keep trying, keep improving, and keep holding ourselves to a higher standard.
Following Christ, being a patriot, and living as an American are not mutually exclusive. At the same time, they are not automatically the same thing. Each calls us to a life of commitment, courage, humility, and responsibility. To live faithfully and honorably, we must clearly understand to whom we are first responsible.
Being a good citizen and being a disciple of Christ both require hard work and dedication. I believe that all people are equal and that all deserve justice. Our Founders believed this as well, even though they fell short of living it fully.
That is why the work of America continues. We still need to try harder.
The Founders understood that, by signing the Declaration of Independence, they were declaring themselves traitors to the Crown and placing their lives at risk. That was a high price to pay for the ideals of equality, justice, self-governance, and respect for individual rights.
At the end of the Declaration, they wrote, “with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”
That line gives me chills. It forces me to ask whether I would willingly pledge my life, my fortune, and my sacred honor to you and to my fellow citizens. I do not know the answer, but I know this: I will try harder.
Peace,
Henry Zaborniak, Senior Warden