Opinion

A great day to read the Declaration

Posted July 04, 2013 5:00 am

Once again our country’s birthday is here, commemorating the day our Founders wrote what is inarguably the finest document ever written by those who fostered the Revolution and sent the Declaration to the king of England. All freedom-loving people should take the time to read the Declaration of Independence (it only takes a few minutes) and realize what the signers risked. It’s nothing if not riveting and to the point in about three pages. These courageous souls would have been put in shackles and sent to England and the gallows had we lost the Revolutionary War. Even so, a surprising number of them died penniless.

Read the names at the bottom. Who remembers Francis Lewis, William Ellery, John Hart and the other little-known statesmen? Thomas Jefferson was selected to write the letter to King George III with suggestions from others. The body of the Declaration lists the reasons for our duty to revolt and remove the colonies from the tyranny of King George. So before the barbecue, read this amazing compact, enjoy the day and remember the 56 brave patriots who made it possible. Jefferson, Adams, Franklin and others would be pleased, I’m sure.

Timothy D. O’Reilly

Chicago

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