[thenightwriterblog] The Night Writer: Famous last words

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Posted by The Night Writer:
Famous last words
http://thenightwriterblog.powerblogs.com/posts/1183667823.shtml


   Most folks can recall the references to God in the opening paragraph
   of the Declaration of Independence; you know the parts about "the
   separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's
   God entitle them" and all men being "endowed by their Creator with
   certain unalienable rights." You might be surprised, however, to know
   that this wasn't the last reference -- in what some would have you
   believe today is a "secular" document -- to a Divine interest in the
   affairs at hand. The last paragraph also establishes a spiritual
   foundation:

     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 the 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.