“When in the course of human events…” Most of us are familiar with the famous opening to the Declaration of Independence.
I think, however, that the most important phrase in the whole document comes towards the end:
“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.”
“Ought to be.” I had never really noticed that phrase in the Declaration of Independence until I recently heard a dramatic reading of it on July 4th.
We are not free because a group of representatives declared it so over 200 years ago. We are not free because it is written on a document kept under glass at the Smithsonian. We are free because we “ought to be.” We are free because our very wise founders appealed to an authority greater than themselves. They were submitted to the Supreme Judge of the World, and they were willing to die for what “ought to be.”
Below is the dramatic reading I heard that made me think about that phrase for the first time. Take a few minutes to listen and brush up on your history!
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