The duty to oppose despotism
Posted in Liberty Points by R Lee Wrights on July 4th, 2008 by Brian Irving
Today is Independence Day. In between the parades, fireworks, BBQs, baseball games and other patriotic festivities, you may have occasion to actually read the Declaration of Independence. After all, that document is what this holiday is supposed to be about. You might even have time to read some editorials and news articles, watch some TV program or hear politicians pontificate about the significance of that document. And you’ll probably here these words:
“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.”
But read on, to the part the political class and power elites don’t want you to hear:
“–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.”
While the punctuation and capitalization style in the original is strange to modern readers, you can’t deny Thomas Jefferson had a way with words. (I emphasized my favorite lines.) In today’s American English, he said:
“The only legitimate purpose of government is to ensure that no one violates anyone else’s rights.
“Therefore, a just government can only serve those people who voluntarily support it. Whenever any form of government exceeds its legitimate authority and begins destroying the very values it was instituted to protect, it is the right of the people to either change it or abolish it, and to set up a new government designed in such a way that its power is strictly limited to its proper functions.
“Of course, common sense says such drastic steps should not be taken except in extreme circumstances. And, historically, people will tolerate a great deal of oppression rather than change a system with which they have grown familiar and comfortable.
“However, when a long series of abuses, invariably pursuing the same goal, demonstrates a plan to reduce us to virtual slavery, it is our right (indeed, it is our duty!) to reject such government and institute a new system to provide for our future security.” (From A New Declaration of Independence by Timothy J. O’Brien)
Does this sound radical? Does it sound revolutionary? It should, because it is.
Jefferson himself said “The tree of Liberty should be watered with the blood of patriots and tyrants.” Clearly, the Founders were not afraid of revolution, violent or otherwise; the expected it. That the United States of America has managed to survives intact for more than 200 years, with only one “unpleasantness” is a testimony to the devotion of Americans to the ideal of liberty, but it is not a given.
John Adams noted that the “American Revolution” actually began well before July 4, 1776. “The Revolution was effected before the war commenced. The Revolution was in the minds and hearts of the people; a change in their religious sentiments, of their duties and obligations…This radical change in the principles, opinions, sentiments, and affections of the people was the real American Revolution” (Letter to H. Niles, February 13, 1818).
We need another Revolution — a revolution in our thinking of the origin of our rights and scope and purpose of government; a revolution in the sense of completing the circle and going back to our roots.
Our rights were granted to us by our creator, if you believe in one, but nevertheless ours by the very fact of our existence, and not given to us by government or anyone else.
Our rights are individual rights, not collective or group rights.
Our rights are numberless. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are just examples.
Our right to pursue happiness does not mean we are guaranteed to attain it — but government cannot erect obstacles in our way.
The Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were written to prevent government from evincing any design for despotism.
If government gets our of hand, we have a duty the get rid of it.
Read The Declaration of Independence on the Library of Congress website.
Read more of Irving’s rants at www.libertypoint.org.
hangman said,
July 6, 2008 @ 7:45 pm
We should use BATFU tactics against the offenders. We find the worst tyrants’(Bush, Cheney, Chertof)addresses and bust in at 3:00 am and kill all who resist, using flash bang devices. We should intimidate the hell out of these monsters. This bullshit has got to stop. For our grandchildren’s sake if nothing else.
The duty to oppose despotism-Politics and Government-Online Gambling, Online Sportsbooks at Eye on Gambling provides Live Odds Sports News Free Picks Sports Betting and Gambling Odds Online at eog.com said,
July 7, 2008 @ 8:58 pm
[...] The duty to oppose despotism The duty to oppose despotism by Brian Irving July 4th, 2008 Today is Independence Day. In between the parades, fireworks, BBQs, baseball games and other patriotic festivities, you may have occasion to actually read the Declaration of Independence. After all, that document is what this holiday is supposed to be about. You might even have time to read some editorials and news articles, watch some TV program or hear politicians pontificate about the significance of that document. And you’ll probably here these words: “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.” But read on, to the part the political class and power elites don’t want you to hear: “-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.” While the punctuation and capitalization style in the original is strange to modern readers, you can’t deny Thomas Jefferson had a way with words. (I emphasized my favorite lines.) In today’s American English, he said: “The only legitimate purpose of government is to ensure that no one violates anyone else’s rights. “Therefore, a just government can only serve those people who voluntarily support it. Whenever any form of government exceeds its legitimate authority and begins destroying the very values it was instituted to protect, it is the right of the people to either change it or abolish it, and to set up a new government designed in such a way that its power is strictly limited to its proper functions. “Of course, common sense says such drastic steps should not be taken except in extreme circumstances. And, historically, people will tolerate a great deal of oppression rather than change a system with which they have grown familiar and comfortable. “However, when a long series of abuses, invariably pursuing the same goal, demonstrates a plan to reduce us to virtual slavery, it is our right (indeed, it is our duty!) to reject such government and institute a new system to provide for our future security.” [From A New Declaration of Independence by Timothy J. O'Brien] Does this sound radical? Does it sound revolutionary? It should, because it is. Jefferson himself said “The tree of Liberty should be watered with the blood of patriots and tyrants.” Clearly, the Founders were not afraid of revolution, violent or otherwise; the expected it. That the United States of America has managed to survives intact for more than 200 years, with only one “unpleasantness” is a testimony to the devotion of Americans to the ideal of liberty, but it is not a given. John Adams noted that the “American Revolution” actually began well before July 4, 1776. “The Revolution was effected before the war commenced. The Revolution was in the minds and hearts of the people; a change in their religious sentiments, of their duties and obligations. This radical change in the principles, opinions, sentiments, and affections of the people was the real American Revolution” (Letter to H. Niles, February 13, 1818). We need another Revolution — a revolution in our thinking of the origin of our rights and scope and purpose of government; a revolution in the sense of completing the circle and going back to our roots. Our rights were granted to us by our creator, if you believe in one, but nevertheless ours by the very fact of our existence, and not given to us by government or anyone else. Our rights are individual rights, not collective or group rights. Our rights are numberless. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are just examples. Our right to pursue happiness does not mean we are guaranteed to attain it — but government cannot erect obstacles in our way. The Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were written to prevent government from evincing any design for despotism. If government gets our of hand, we have a duty the get rid of it. http://www.libertyf orall.net/ ?p=1354 [...]