Strength In Difference

July 4, 1776 is not necessarily the date of our actual Declaration of Independence. The actual date is still debated to this day, but the Declaration of Independence, based upon a motion for independence by Richard Henry Lee, was ratified by 12 of the original 13 Colonies on July 2, 1776. After two days of debating the language used in the Thomas Jefferson draft of the document, the Declaration was officially adopted by Congress on July 4, 1776 and was actually signed by most of the delegates on August 2, 1776. So if we use the actual date of ratification, which would be the most correct, I believe, then July 2, 1776 is the date of our Declaration of Independence. If we use the date it was officially adopted by Congress then July 4, 1776 is correct. If we use the date it was signed by the majority of delegates then it would be August 2, 1776.

Whichever date is most correct, the Declaration of Independence remains one of the greatest documents ever written, followed closely by our Constitution and the Bill of Rights. All of these documents have been used as models by the citizens of many of the world’s countries as they have sought greater freedoms.

As deplorable as the conditions and divisions within our United States of America have become, this is still the greatest Nation upon God’s Earth. Those who complain about what an awful place America is should do a bit of traveling across the world and live for a short time in any other countries before denouncing our great Nation. We, the people, have the power to make America whatever we want it to be. If this Country is terrible it is because that is what we want it to be. Because we are more concerned with what we as a race, a religion, a state, a community, or an individual want than what we as a unified Nation want. If America is wonderful it is because we as Americans choose to no longer allow our government to continue to convince us that we are incompatible because we have different colors of skin, that our ancestors are from white Europe, black Africa, brown Mexico, from China, Japan, Iraq, Iran, Spain, and all other countries and nations throughout the world, that we worship different gods or the same God differently than our neighbors (and everyone has a god- the Christian [Baptist, Catholic, Jehovah’s Witness, Latter-Day Saint, Methodist, Lutheran, etc.], the Muslim, the Buddhist, the Sikh, the atheist obsessed with technology, money or power - we all have a god), or to convince us that what is good for the black man isn’t good for the white man or that all men believe they are better than women. In other words, America is a reflection of its people. Divided we fall, because we allow our corrupt government and those who operate in shadows behind the curtain to divide us as a people, because division is their greatest weapon. United we stand, because we understand that we are all brothers and sisters, and that our skin color, religious beliefs, gender and other differences are complimentary strengths meant to unify rather than divide. Separately, our differences weaken us as a people, as a Nation. But together, our differences become strengths. I’ll bring the noodles. You bring the meatballs. Someone else brings the tomato sauce, another the parmesan cheese, another the garlic, another the salt and another the pepper. I can eat noodles, you can eat a tomato, a garlic clove, or whatever, or we can combine our different but complimentary ingredients and make some delicious spaghetti to share with each other. Everyone gets filled with a delicious meal. And let’s not forget to place with gratitude our Native American brothers and sisters, that even today we continue to neglect and ignore, in the seat of honor at our table. It is their land, really, upon which we live. They, of all peoples in the U.S.A., have the most reason to be upset and yet they as a people seem to complain the least.

We should learn about and take pride in our respective cultural, ancestral and spiritual heritages, our religious beliefs, our gender, our history as individuals, as groups and as a Country. To do otherwise is a tragedy. But, regardless of what else we may be, we must remember that first and foremost we are AMERICANS.

I am of no real significance in this world or this Country. I have no power and very little influence. Most likely, my words here won’t make any real difference in the course that we as a Nation pursue. But perhaps there is the slightest of possibilities that someone who reads these words will be influenced by them. Perhaps the principle behind my words will be shared with others, particularly with the young people of our great Nation. Perhaps one of those young people will agree with me and grow up to be a person of influence with the ability to effect positive change. Regardless of whether our words make any real positive difference or are ignored completely, we each have an inescapable responsibility to do all that we can to better ourselves as individuals and as a people. As a United People.