Delving into the Declaration

Given recent events at the Supreme Court, our country is currently focused on our Constitution, and the Tenth Amendment in particular. It’s a moment of accomplishment for some people in our community, and a point of sadness and pain for others. Passions run high, and discourse is too often unproductive. My sympathies lie with a silent majority who recognize the countervailing rights involved and do their best to respect both sides of the discussion. Call it pragmatism, or “Nebraska Nice,” but that’s where I’m planting my flag. Feel free to join me.

That said, our Constitution was designed to limit the powers of two distinct threats to democracy: tyrannical government and “the mob.” This weekend, we have the opportunity to focus on our Declaration of Independence which doesn’t address the “mob” side of the equation but offers a primer on the motivations behind checking the power of tyrants.

The document lists 25 charges, 16 of which begin with the word “he.” That looks like a personal attack by today’s standards, but in the context of 18th-century monarchy, “he” describes the government as a whole. At the same time, “He” the individual did indeed have his share of temperament issues, and a few references in the document may allude to those as well. I’m particularly drawn to “He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.” That spoke to a few legitimate differences between the crown and the colonies, but it also reflected the monarch’s mood swings and periodic outbursts. Remember that Ben Franklin, an editor of the document, had just been severely dressed down before the Privy Council in London only two years earlier. I have no doubt that Mr. Franklin kept his emotions in check while forming the document, but knowing his history with the crown makes the Declaration read a bit differently.

Some of the issues detailed are matters that were addressed later in our Constitution, like powers of the executive branch, judiciary powers, trials in absentia, civilian control of the military and interstate extraditions. Other issues in the Declaration are still with us. Immigration policies are addressed in the Declaration, and that’s a current topic, as are international trade policies. Bureaucracy, just as today, was seen as a threat to freedom. The founders wrote, “ He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.” That sounds like any one of several Ronald Reagan speeches during the 1980s, and the problem is still with us.

If we have time to absorb any popular media this weekend we will, without doubt, be pummeled with “Things you didn’t know about Independence Day.” Yes, the actual title of the document is, “A Declaration by the Representatives of the United States of America in General Congress Assembled, 28 June 1776”, but “Independence Day” fits more easily into a mattress sale ad.

We will also be reminded that the holiday celebrates the document rather than independence itself. What we now know as the “Declaration of Independence” was approved on July 4 of 1776, but the vote to declare independence; the vote to secede from the British Empire took place on July 2.

For that reason, John Adams predicted that the anniversary of the country would be observed on July 2. In a letter written to his wife, Abigail, Adams famously wrote, “The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty.”

Confusion about the holiday doesn’t end with President Adams. As painful as they are to watch, those man-in-the-street type interviews seen on late-night talk shows are authentic. Typically, an interviewer and a camera operator stand on a busy street corner and ask passersby questions about the founding fathers, the date of the revolution, what countries were involved, etc. Basic third-grade stuff, right? The answers are jaw-dropping and are a pretty serious indictment of our educational system. It also reinforces negative stereotypes about the generations to follow us. I honestly don’t know how many correct answers they have to go through to get five minutes of comedic material, but it can’t be too hard. When comedy writers run out of inspiration, they can always send someone into the street with a camera, where there is a never-ending supply of material.

For that reason, my hope is that the holiday is a reminder to discuss and reflect on the meaning behind the observance–particularly with young folks, but we older people could also use a refresher now and then too. It hurts me a bit when I talk to kids who have little or no appreciation for the uniqueness of our country, so when the grandkids crawl onto our laps to watch fireworks tomorrow, it won’t hurt to narrate the show with a quick history lesson.

As for the rest of us who managed to stay awake in civics class, there is still much to learn. In the past, reading of the Declaration by a community elder was central to any July 4 celebration. Sadly, that tradition has fallen out of favor, but a re-read of the document itself is never a bad start. For many years, NPR assembled and aired a version of the declaration spoken, one line at a time, by celebrities and radio personalities. I haven’t been as regular a listener these past few years, but I’m guessing that they would continue the tradition and it’s always nicely done.

A step beyond that would be finding a copy of Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense.” It’s a bit longer at 80 or so pages, but it lays out the case for many of the views expressed in the Declaration, and many historians believe that Paine had as much or more input on the Declaration as Jefferson. Paine, it turns out, was a bit of a loose cannon and a bad boy in general. As a Donald Trump-type character of his time, the Congress was in no hurry to put Paine’s name on the document, but a read of Common Sense leaves little doubt about his influence.

If you really want to take a deep dive, look into the Iroquois Confederacy. I have always been taught that the founding fathers were inspired by the structure of the pre-colonial native-American government, but I had no idea of the complexity and duration of that structure. Historians place the establishment of the governmental process anywhere between the 12th and 16th centuries. The confederation that joined the Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga, Mohawk and eventually the Tuscarora. All were part of the Haudenosaunee culture, which was centered in current-day New York State, but extended south to the Allegheny mountains to present-day Ontario to the north.

What makes it more interesting is that the term, “Haudenosaunee” translates to “the people of the longhouse.” The long house was central to the social and governmental structure of the Iroquois, but externally they bear a resemblance to Viking long houses. Anthropologists have argued the issue for years. Some point out the probability that the tribes and the Viking explorers had contact, while others contend that the construction methods are too dissimilar to imply a direct connection. Either way, it’s an interesting study of a pre-Columbian advanced culture and has just enough intrigue to please Columbus debunkers.

As I leave you to your celebrations (and illuminations) let’s review the usual seasonal reminders. Count children’s fingers before and after playing with fireworks and be cognizant of our dry, windy climate that is often only a spark away from feeding a wildfire. Also, please remember that it’s a tough day for doggies. My vet has given me blessings to slip my trusty sidekick a Benadryl to help her rest while the fireworks are booming. I hide it from her in a ball of cheese or ground beef, a trick I learned from Bill Cosby, but be careful. Always check first with your vet.

With that, I wish you all a safe, healthy and happy holiday with all of the trappings of family, fireworks and cookouts. Of course, our modest celebrations can’t compare with those of Thomas Jefferson and John Adams who observed the 50th anniversary by dying. Top that.