I
have spoken many times about the importance of the Constitution and the
Declaration of Independence.
It
should go without saying that these documents are foundational to our nation.
They
were revolutionary texts for the time that laid out our timeless founding
ideals that we continue to strive towards as Americans.
Unfortunately,
it seems this fact can’t be taken for granted.
On
the Fourth of July, NPR continued its tradition of sharing the text of the
Declaration.
But
this year, it began with what they call in colleges now a “trigger warning,”
telling its audience that the Declaration is “a document with flaws and deeply
ingrained hypocrisies.”
Instead
of highlighting the American ideals it laid out, NPR decided that the most
important thing to note was that it contained outdated language about Native
Americans and that its ideals were not yet fully realized when it was written.
I
can think of many ways to introduce a reader to this document. But, it
fundamentally misses the point to focus on the flaws of the authors and signers
rather than the ideals it lays out of natural rights endowed to all by our
creator.
The
people who wrote the Declaration were not perfect, but the principles they
espoused remain true to this day and have changed the course of human history
for the better.
We need
not ignore the fact that the Founders did not live up to the lofty goals they
set.
But
it does a disservice to focus on those flaws while glossing over the fact that
our founding principles were truly exceptional in human history.
They
set us on a path to abolish slavery, provided the justification for woman’s
suffrage, and formed the basis of the Civil Rights Movement.
On
July 4th, we celebrate our nation, “conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the
proposition that all men are created equal” as Lincoln said.
It
is imperative that we do not lose sight of our founding principles, which unite
all Americans and have been the driving force helping us achieve a more perfect
union.
