What's your favorite part of the Declaration of Independence?

[Guaranteed]

I'll post the first couple of paragraphs, but you can find the rest here:

http://www.archives.gov/national-archives-experience/charters/declaration_transcript.html

IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

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.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

-------------------------

My favorite is, of course, the classic first line of the second paragraph. They are, in my opinion, possibly the most noble, righteous words ever to be put to paper.

[LynnTheDem]

1. Governments are instituted..

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

[Guaranteed]

2. The phrase right before that is so important, as well-

That to SECURE these rights ....governments are instituted.

Not only does the government derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, but the whole and only *purpose* of government is to serve the people and their interests- life & liberty, among others.

[Alamom]

8. This one for me, too. .......and we are well past it.

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.






edit to clarify.

[LiberalPartisan]

9. Ditto n/t

[northofdenali]

3. We hold these truths to be self-evident

amen.

[Guaranteed]

4. Yup....self-evident.

Jefferson originally had another phrase in there- something like "undeniable and...". But Adams and Franklin suggested he change it. Amazing diction.

Simply self-evident. Beautiful.

[silverweb]

5. Ditto.

Same as already stated... as well as the whole thing.

It breaks my heart that many of our fellow citizens today not only don't seem to believe it anymore, but are actively against what it says.

But they call themselves "patriotic" and liberals treasonous.

Go figure.

:shrug:

[CrazyForKucinich]

6. Alter or Abolish bad governments.

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.

[shenmue]

7. "All men are created equal"

:7

[DFW]

10. Here's mine:

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

[Theduckno2]

11. "....we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and

our Sacred Honor.".

Contrast that with the Bushco that hides from protestors, reaps financial reward (Halliburton) from its failures and as for honor, you've got to be kidding.

Honorable mention to "...a decent respect to the opinions of mankind..." as something else George Bush lacks.

[TomClash]

12. "For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences"

Sounds like Gitmo to me!

[TomClash]

13. This sounds like the current King George

"He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation."

[The2ndWheel]

14. Merciless Indian Savages

"He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions."

Which makes Manifest Destiny worth doing. They must be civilized. You can insert any group in there. The uppity black, Jew, the young Arab male, it's all good. They were "our" frontiers afterall. God bless America.

[UTUSN]

15. The part that says, "No BUSH will EVER take office again, EVER." n/t

[July]

16. "unalienable rights"

Puts the lie to all of Bush's claims to be able to strip both Americans and others of essential rights.