We mark far more than independence on this day

A single piece of parchment changed the world.
On that parchment were the words of Thomas Jefferson and the signatures of representatives of the 13 original colonies. Among those words are some of the most inspirational in history.
It set a theme for freedom-loving people with this assertion: 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.
And it concluded with one of the bravest declarations ever put to paper:
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
Act of defiance
We refer to it as a declaration of independence, which is a benign name. It was in every sense a declaration of war and every signer knew that he was putting his life on the line. King George was not going to take kindly to these colonies declaring themselves to be independent states.
At this time of year various tracts circulate on the Internet purporting to record the trials, tribulations and losses of those signers. Most are as much legend as fact. But it is indisputable that the signers of this declaration (which was approved by vote on July 4, 1776, but not actually signed until later) exhibited extraordinary bravery and set an example for generations to come.
That example continues today, when the men and women of the United States armed services are risking their lives not only for their nation, but for the freedom of others.
Freedom, though, is an elusive thing. Too often those who are in power or covet power want only to be free to tell others how to live their lives. In Iraq, for instance, there are those who clamor for "democracy" now only because they are eager to use their majority status to subjugate the minorities. Democracy is a marvelous system of government, but it does not guarantee freedom.
Recognizing freedom
Freedom comes only when the majority recognizes that men and women and children are not only created equal, but deserve to be treated as such. This lesson was well enunciated by Jefferson in his Declaration of Independence, but even the nation that grew out of that declaration has had a difficult time living up to the ideal.
And even 227 years after the bells pealed in Philadelphia proclaiming the birth of a nation, each of us sometimes fails to acknowledge that all 291,410,226 of us (the U.S. Census population estimate as of 12:01 a.m. today) have inalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Whatever our reservations may be about recognizing that equality, we must overcome them as surely as the Founders overcame the reservations they had about signing their names to that historic parchment.
We owe it to them, and we owe it to our nation.