Our Nation's Living Principles



Principle: a fundamental truth or rule that shapes or guides one's beliefs or chain of reasoning 

As human beings, we all possess principles that shape the manner in which we live our lives. Who you are as a person is determined by the principles you carry yourself by. However, what allows us as Americans to determine the way we live stems from our foundation. The values and principles embedded in the Declaration of Independence empower us to have control over our lives.

Therefore, I believe that the most influential aspect of the Declaration of Independence is its principles. The principles established by the colonists gave them a foundation on how to live their own lives separate from the jurisdiction of the British. In her book, Our Declaration: A Reading of the Declaration of Independence in Defense of Equality, Danielle Allen explains how, “The colonists have not been told by someone else that King George is now an enemy. They judge him to be such. As a community, they grasp and hold this fact through their own collective interpretation of their present circumstances. On its account, they must now act differently” (Allen 261-262). Their principles allow the colonists to define the actions of King George III as morally wrong and take the necessary precautions accordingly. As a result, the principles of freedom and equality are what propel the colonists to declare their independence from King George III and their British brethren. 

In addition, the principles by which the Declaration of Independence was written upon are most important to our understanding of the document today. The facts or events that occur in history vary from generation to generation. The facts recorded by the colonists are totally different from the facts of 21st century Americans. This difference is what makes citizens believe that the Declaration of Independence is an unrelatable and outdated document in 2019. However, we as citizens of the United States of America, have continued to live by the principles laid out in the Declaration of Independence for the past 242 years. The ideals of freedom, equality and the “pursuit of happiness” are still proclaimed by citizens all across the nation, and by our political leaders.

Without the writing of the Declaration of Independence, the principles of freedom and equality would not exist today. The absence of such important values could have possibly kept us under British rule to this day. However, because we are Americans, the principles that freed us from the British in 1776 continue to live on within us today. This is why it is so important to read and reread the Declaration of Independence. The documents fundamental principles are what unite us as American people.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Remember the Titans: A Story of Equality

Image
A few weeks ago, I watched one of my favorite football movies of all time, "Remember the Titans". After viewing the film in its entirety for the first time in years, I have come to understand the story's true meaning. Although "Remember the Titans" is a great football film, it is more importantly a story that reveals the true power of equality. This movie portrays the true story of the T.C Williams High School Football team in Alexandria, Virginia during their inaugural season in 1971. This was the same year that the school was forced by federal laws to integrate African American students. Therefore, the team consisted of both white and black players. The head coach of the Titans was Herman Boone, an African American man played by Denzel Washington. At the beginning of the film when the school first opened, there was a lot of racial tension between the white and black players. They did not sit together at the same tables and only associated with players...
Read more

A Reflection on Citizenship

Image
.  In one week from today, I will be sitting on an airplane flying to my home state of New Jersey for the summer vacation. Therefore, I thought it would be appropriate to reflect upon my semester in this final blog post. I have truly learned a lot about citizenship from my Citizens! Expository Writing course. Going into this class, I thought of citizenship simply as one's legal status in the United States. However, after reading the historical works of Frederick Douglass, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and an in-depth analysis of the Declaration of Independence, my view of American citizenship has expanded greatly. I have a new sense of appreciation and value for the foundational principle of equality. Prior to reading Danielle Allen's book , Our Declaration: A Reading of the Declaration of Independence in Defense of Equality , I thought equality meant the same, which gave the principle a negative connotation in my head. Allen's book debunks this perception and shows ho...
Read more

United We Stand, Divided We Fall

Image
In my final research paper for my US History class, I examine the immediate aftermath of September 11th, 2001, and its psychological effects on the people of New York. 9/11 is arguably the most tragic single day in American history as approximately 3000 innocent Americans were killed by the violent and cruel acts of 19 terrorists. The horrific sites of watching the iconic Twin Towers collapse and seeing people jumping to their deaths has and continues to pull the heartstrings of Americans across the nation. There was a great sense of fear that took over the country as citizens were uncertain of what the future had in store for them, and the country as a whole. Although the events of 9/11 presented the city of New York and the country as a whole with major problems in regards to infrastructure, mental health, and security, we, the citizens of the United States, were able to overcome this tragedy because we stood by each other during this terrible time. As citizens, we put our...
Read more