http://www.mylot.com/w/keywords/declaration+of+independence.aspx MyLot Discussions About declaration of independence en-gb http://www.mylot.com/w/discussions/2058708.aspx I love to watch stories about history...any history. It's not always accurate and it's not very pretty most of the time but it's passionate and it's interesting to see how a country was made or how a country was changed. This morrow will be the celebration of our nations' independence of Brittain and as a history buff I loved watching about our founding fathers; the men that made the laws we have today. These men risked everything so that we may have the freedoms that we have now. Here is an exerpt from an article that I found on the men that wrote the laws that would become the Constitution of our nation.....enjoy and be thankful that we didn't have to be them! What Happened To Our Founding Fathers? Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence? Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons in the Revolutionary Army, another had two sons captured. Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War. They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. What kind of men were they? Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated. But they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured. Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags. Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward. Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton. At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt. Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months. John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished. A few weeks later he died from exhaustion and a broken heart. Norris and Livingston suffered similar fates..... When you read about these men remember that they were considered traitors because we were ALL British citizens at this time and to go against the law was grounds for having your property seized and to be imprisoned or killed! So when you are out enjoying your day off with a picnic and thinking about how great it is to be American....remember that it took a lot of blood to get these freedoms we all take for granted..... And while you think about this ask yourself....were these men right to do what they did? Or do you think that it was all for nothing? And do you think politicians now think about these brave men when they twist the Constitution into whatever they want it to be? Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:21:17 GMT hornswaggled http://www.mylot.com/w/discussions/1874055.aspx ...from ideology and bigotry -- as he acknowledged the nation faces severe http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/01/17/train.dispatches/index.html It's a little hard to tell from the way Obama phrased his comment - whether he is actually proposing a new Declaration of Independence or if it is just the phraseology. What do you think? Sat, 17 Jan 2009 10:47:16 GMT newtondak http://www.mylot.com/w/discussions/1810004.aspx The Declaration of Independence was drafted in 1776 and was really one of those documents of history that we were required to memorize..My most favorite part is: "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. -- "Everyone..has a righth to respect and common courtesy!IF we are Americans and act against this we act against what our founding fathers faught for in the war of Independence!We mustn't write anyone off or use such degrading language to our fellow americans.. Much blood was shed so our country can be free ...and so all men.. black, yellow, white or whatever color would have the same rights and be treated equally with respect as the other. Wed, 26 Nov 2008 21:21:34 GMT littlefranciscan http://www.mylot.com/w/discussions/1767042.aspx A couple of days ago, I emailed the Rush Limbaugh Show with a quote I had found that I thought was extremely relevant, He just read it on his show! I think it says exactly the opposite of what Obama is trying to do to this country. People really need to wake up!! I wonder how many high school civics classes include this quote by one of our Nations Founders. And not just Obama but all of our government today. How many people would like this kind of government? "A wise and frugal government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, which shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government, and this is necessary to close the circle of our felicity." by:Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), US Founding Father, drafted the Declaration of Independence, 3rd US President Tue, 28 Oct 2008 12:08:26 GMT morethanamolehill http://www.mylot.com/w/discussions/560026.aspx There is a sequel to the movie "National Treasure".It's predicted release is for December of this year.From what I hear Nicolas Cage will still be the star of it. Stephanie Sat, 06 Jan 2007 22:54:00 GMT dragonryder http://www.mylot.com/w/discussions/1769091.aspx "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. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That 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, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security." ~The US Declaration of Independence Too many people think that our rights are granted us by our Government. Others think that it is the US Constitution that grants us our individual rights. Still others say that right derive from We the People... But we need go no further than the Declaration of Independence to learn where our rights originate. They aren't granted by anyone, nor are they the product of ink and parchment. They aren't the result of popular opinion or mandates from the masses. They are ours because we our human beings, they are the birthright we enjoy from our creator. The US Constitution does not grant rights to We the People, in fact, the US Constitution is not addressed to We the People at all. It is a letter (of sorts) from We the People, to the Federal Government. It is an acknowledgement that there are certain authorities and responsibilities that we much relinquish to government officials in order to carry out the duties of their assignments. The Declaration of Independence defines The United States of America. It tells the world what it means to be an American, and what the United States of America hopes to accomplish as a nation. On the other hand, it does not define what it means to be an American, nor does it tell us what we can and can't do. We can't hope to achieve the goals of the United States of America if we try under the delusion that We the People are the arbitors of rights. That is what brought us attrocities like legal slavery, denial of suffrage to women and some minorities, crimes against the tribes and even the Mormon Extermination Act of Missouri (just to name a few). If any of these acts were held to real Constitutional and Declaration of Independence scrutiny, none of them would have been allowed to happen. But more importantly, if the scoundrels who carried out the attrocities would have refused to deny someone else their inalienable rights, then the government officials would never have had the opportunity to legitimize or codify them at all. When we act, vote, or make demands on our government or each other... when we take someone to court, or call the police... when we petition for laws banning the activities of others we need to think about what we are doing. We need to remember who and from where our rights originate. If we think that they are merely the result of the whims of long dead White Guys, then we deserve to lose them. If we elect people who promise to take our rights away, then we not only deserve to lose all our rights, we have demanded it. Just something to remember November 4th. Wed, 29 Oct 2008 23:46:08 GMT ParaTed2k http://www.mylot.com/w/discussions/1587050.aspx Friday is Independence Day, and we have a patriotic idea to pass along to you from one of our members. Jeffrey thinks it would be great if more Americans actually read the Declaration of Independence on July 4th – and so do we! It’s easy to lose touch with the founding ideas that were deeded to us by those who paid such a high price for our independence. So this Friday, we encourage you to read the Declaration, and better yet, read it aloud with your family and some friends. To whet your appetite, here is the concluding passage of one of the most noble documents ever penned, the Declaration of Independence: 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, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor. Here is wishing you and yours a happy, safe, and patriotic 4th of July! Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:11:15 GMT revdauphinee http://www.mylot.com/w/discussions/1293012.aspx ...these people read it beautifully. Kathy Bates Mel Gibson..and many other prominent actors apparently feel that most of us Americans don't have a clue. Watch the video and get a clue: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxTvS-kyHzs It is your OBLIGATION to know your rights. It is your OBLIGATION to know what the fight is all about. It is your OBLIGATION to know what "independence" means. Mon, 01 Oct 2007 22:14:44 GMT visitorinvasion http://www.mylot.com/w/discussions/1184631.aspx Have you viewed the movie National Treasure? I watched the movie and I just loved it. It was exciting but I had never heard of any message being on the back of The Declaration of Independence. The movie made me interested enough about the message hidden on the back of the Declaration of Independence that as soon as the movie was over, I went to the internet to find answers to my questions. I have a natural hunger for knowledge. In just a few short minutes, I had found my answer. According to the National Archives, "While no one knows for certain who wrote it, it is known that early in its life, the large parchment document was rolled up for storage. So, it is likely that the notation was added simply as a label." So There are no hidden messages after all. On the back, at the bottom, upside-down is simply written: "Original Declaration of Independence / dated 4th July 1776." So the question has been answered. I still enjoyed the movie and have viewed it several times since my initial viewing. I just view it with new found knowledge now. Have you ever watched a movie and wondered if the some of the things in it is true? Did you wonder about this hiden message on the back of The Declaration of Independence? Wed, 04 Jul 2007 18:22:39 GMT villageanne http://www.mylot.com/w/discussions/1190813.aspx We just had the supposed celebration of our nation's birthday, but really what does it mean to you? A lot of times, when I see these supposed Independence Day celebraters, and all I am seeing is an opportunity for people to get fat, drunk, and lazy. Now don't get me wrong people, I got fat, drunk, and lazy too. But do we as a nation really represent the qualities that makes this day special? This day some 231 years ago a group of highly educated, wealthy, and God fearing men came together to create a nation that we now have so little respect these days. These men put their lives on the line, when Patric Henry coined the phrase "Give liberty or give me death." He literally meant give me liberty or give me death. There was an actual death sentence on every one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. These men lost family members, their property, and their livelihood for this country, and all we can do is gripe that gas is too high. This country was founded on personal freedoms and economic freedoms. Yet, we will elect a politician who has the audacity to take away both freedoms. How dare one politician tell me and my fellow countrymen that freedoms that were granted to me 231 years ago are up to debate. How dare politicians commit armed robbery everyday when they still my money, and how dare us elect politicians that would do this? Benjamin Franklin said it best, "Those that would trade alittle bit of freedom for a little bit of security will find that they have neither, and deserve neither." Sun, 08 Jul 2007 12:01:31 GMT gewcew23