The Declaration of Independence, ratified on July 4, 1776, has some nice words. “All men are created equal, that they are endowed … with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” and “whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government.”

But, what was on paper was not backed up then by real laws and policies. Freedom and rights only applied to white men, and only those who owed land. If someone had a dark skin, identified as a woman, or didn’t have much money, they didn’t qualify.  

Thankfully, the movements against racism, sexism and other forms of discrimination and for civil and human rights, regardless of gender, skin color, sexual orientation, ability, economic status and other characteristics in the last 250 years have overturned or at least reduced the difference between the words in the Declaration of Independence and its reality in daily life.

I’ll be too busy trying to further reduce that gap between words and deeds this week to celebrate the past and attempts, by some, to take us back to the time of King George. I hope others will join me in promoting a more equitable and egalitarian future, not an oligarchic past. 

Larry Dansinger
Bangor