On this July 4 I am Optimistic
Today I find myself reflecting on the founding of our country, our successes and failures over these nearly two and a half centuries, and the challenges our country faces going forward. Though these challenges seem daunting at times, today I am optimistic. I am optimistic because the words of our founders, while expressed within the imperfections of all human endeavors, continue to point the way.
The Declaration of Independence, which we celebrate today, was clear that the equality of all people was “self-evident”, “endowed by our Creator”, and “unalienable”.
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.
In spite of these words, our country has struggled — and continues to struggle — with truly extending equality to all. We’ve made some incomplete progress. I am optimistic that progress can continue to be made because I believe that the vast majority of us truly wish to ensure that the words of the Declaration ring true for all Americans.
There is still work to be done.
A little over a decade later, the trials and tribulations of forming a new nation came to fruition with our founding Constitution, the preamble to which reads:
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
Our Constitution did succeed in establishing a Union that, though imperfect, has thus far withstood the test of time. Today, I am optimistic that our Union can continue to be perfected in ways that affirm our Declaration’s declared truths of individual Rights to “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness”. I am optimistic because I believe that the vast majority of Americans are willing to work toward common purpose in an effort that has never been, nor ever will be, easy.
There is still work to be done.
