“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.”
So begins the second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence signed on July 4, 1776, as the 13 original states claimed they should be Free and Independent states and “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.”
Our independent spirit in North Carolina predates the Declaration of Independence with the adoption of the Mecklenberg Resolves, a set of anti-British resolutions adopted by Mecklenberg County residents on May 31, 1775. (This is different than the Mecklenberg Declaration of Independence which some have questioned the authenticity of.)
It is thought the Mecklenburg Resolves helped fuel the independent spirit as other cities such as Wilmington, Fayetteville, Pitt County, and Tryon County all adopted similar resolves before the Halifax Resolves were signed by delegates to the Fourth Provincial Congress on April 12, 1776, voicing support for independence for all colonies. (Source: NCpedia)
Our country has made great strides in its 245-year history, but there is still work to do. There is always room for growth and improvement, both as a country and in our personal lives.
The founding fathers were a group of smart, visionary men who came together to form our country. Were they perfect? No. Is our country above criticism? No. We cannot erase history, but we can learn from it and improve upon it. We can learn from our mistakes and commit to do better, individually and as a society.
As we celebrate our country’s independence, let’s strive to live by the ideals set forth in the Declaration of Independence and treat each other as equals. That doesn’t mean we will always see eye-to-eye, but it does mean we treat each other with respect and know that we all have and deserve the same basic rights.