If Jefferson Blogged

THOMAS JEFFERSON_________________________________07.04.76

A Declaration of Independence

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. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

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Comments____________________________________________________________

“Self-evident” truths? This is typical Democratic-Republican bullshittery, Tom. If I’m hearing you correctly, what you’re saying is simply because you believe it, it’s true. Okay, well, I’m saying you suck -- seems fairly “self-evident” to me.

Posted by: whig4ever at July 4, 1776
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Who taught you how to spell and capitalize -- the Hessians? Buy a dictionary before you put us through this kind of thing again, you moron.

Posted by: tompaine at July 4, 1776
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Is this supposed to be funny? Your humour’s always so dry I can never tell. Anyway, the wife and I are big fans of your “A Summary View of the Rights of British America” from a couple years ago. We use your “The hand of force may destroy” line all the time around bedtime when the kids won't put down their chalk and slate and go to sleep.

Posted by: colonist254 at July 4, 1776
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This post is so unbelievably amateurish it makes my eyes water just looking at it. First of all, when you state that “Men” have been endowed by “their Creator”, are you saying there’s one Creator for all men, or that each man has his own Creator? And do women have a different Creator and the rules are different for them? Maybe I’m splitting hairs but it seems to me the devil is in the details and the British will be on our asses in a split-second if we don’t get this right. Second, you state that this aforementioned, vaguely-described Creator has endowed us with “certain unalienable rights” and that “among these” are “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”. Wow, where to begin... to start with, could you be a little more namby-pamby? Among these rights? Talk about leaving yourself some wiggle room. And what about this “pursuit of Happiness” business? It’s a loophole big enough to drive a four-wheeled stagecoach through. What if my “pursuit of Happiness” involves depriving people of their Life and Liberty? Not so “self-evident” now, is it you slackjaw.

Posted by: Frederalist at July 4, 1776
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When you refer to a “long train of abuses and usurpations”, are you saying what I think you’re saying? Heh heh.

Posted by: milf at July 4, 1776