Independence Day Everywhere in The U. S Except Texas

Each year we in the United States celebrate the anniversary of our nation's Declaration of Independence. Unbelievably bright, literate men, knowing full and well that committing treason against traditionally tyrannical British monarchs, had always resulted in the death of those who engaged in such treason, and knowing the likelihood of their successfully vanquishing the greatest military force in the world at that time, The British Army, took an amazing leap of faith by declaring that the American British colonies were a sovereign nation separate and independent of Britain called The United States. Every American on this 234th anniversary of that event should know and thrill to the words of the beginning of that declaration:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable 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 abolish it, and to institute a 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"

This wonderful document makes it clear that it is the role of government to enforce and assure these rights and that should a government fail to do so, it is the absolute right of free men to abolish that government, by force if need be, and to institute one dedicated to these principles.

As we head into this 234th celebration of this astounding act of visionary courage, The G. O. P. in Texas (for those of you not familiar with U. S. political idiom, this is an acronym for the "Grand Old Party," i. e., the U. S. Republican Party, analagous to a conservative or Tory party in other democracies) has developed its platform for the election ahead this November. It has declared proudly that these precepts are valid other than in terms of the "All men" provision at the beginning of The Declaration of Independence. It is clearly exempting people who are gay, people who have disabilities, and people who choose to intentionally create families differebt that just one man and one woman, declaring that all of these lack the inalienable rights set forth by the U. S. founding fathers.

It is important as we look forward here in the U. S. to the second Tuesday of next November and, as we eat our hamburgers and hot dogs tomorrow, and watch fireworks displays and gloriously symphonic concerts of patriotic music, that we study exactly what it is the Republican Party stands for. It is rare for the G. O. P. to come out of the closet and transparently state their beliefs and values. It is clear that the Republican vision as elucidated in Texas, were it to come to fruition would result in a government that it would, were we to adhere to the Declaration of Independence, be the right of all free men to abolish and recreate.

You may read the Texas G. O. P. platform here:

http://static.texastribune.org/media/documents/FINAL_2010_STATE_REPUBLICAN_PARTY_PLATFORM.pdf

We have work to do still today 234 years later to preserve freedom from would be tyrants.

All the best,

Tom

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you've imagined.