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Drafted by Thomas Jefferson between June 11 and June 28, 1776, the Declaration of Independence is at once the nation's most cherished symbol of liberty and Jefferson's most enduring monument.

Here, in exalted and unforgettable phrases, Jefferson expressed the convictions in the minds and hearts of the American people. The political philosophy of the Declaration was not new; its ideals of individual liberty had already been expressed by John Locke and the Continental philosophers.

What Jefferson did was to summarize this philosophy in "self-evident truths" and set forth a list of grievances against the King in order to justify before the world the breaking of ties between the colonies and the mother country.

Declaration of Independence

I agree with your sentiments completely.

One thing, though: the Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776. Historians debate the date of its signing, but August 2, 1776 seems to be the most favored date at present.

Parades, fireworks, baseball games, cookouts, camping out, a day off, sparklers, and patriotic music are the traditions we enjoy celebrating the beginning of our great Nation on the fourth of July.

Yet it is critical, now more than ever, that we remember our forefathers' maturity, wisdom and great courage when they agreed with and then signed their names below the very clear yet profound statements found throughout the Declaration of Independence.

This weekend please take time to consider their bravery in the context of the times they lived in, when there were no televisions, no radios, only limited newspapers for those who could read; there were no Sean Hannitys, no Rush Limbaughs, no Glenn Becks, no 24 hour online Conservative forums such as Free Republic and thus, not the slightest respite from a government's oppression in squelching verbal and written dissent often at the end of a rope or in front of a firing squad.

Each signatory had to have realized the grave risk both he and his family faced from the simple act of him signing his name, back in the days when a man's words, promises, name and signature bore great weight.

Fortunately today we have Free Republic, still open and providing the opportunity for all conservatives to express dissent against our current out of control government.

Liberty is not free. Please consider donating now to the 3rd Quarter 2010 FReepathon.