Variations on the Theme of Freedom

Today is the Fourth of July.  A day for parties, cookouts, fireworks and fun.  But, as usual, I’m going to be an earnest,  wet blanket.  This is also a day we need to stop and think…

Let’s start with looking at an excerpt from the Declaration of Independence, as signed on July 4th, 1776.  Most of us probably haven’t really read it since we had to learn it in elementary school.  I wonder, do they still teach the Declaration of Independence in elementary school?  Or in school, period?

Anyway, let’s look at part of the second paragraph:

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 to 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 shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed

Life….Liberty….Pursuit of Happiness…Safety…Happiness….These are the key words that jump out at me.

But remember.  When this Declaration was signed, it really only applied to White Male Landowners.  You, know.  Republicans….

In 1776, slavery was still the law of the new land.  It took almost 200 more years-from the Emancipation to Brown vs the Board of Education to Dr King to the Civil Rights Act– for African Americans to be truly free and legally equal.  And even though we now have an African-American President, we still have a lot of work to do on Race.

In 1776, women were basically the possessions of men.  You know, like the Southern Baptist Convention still dreams of them being….Women could not vote until 1920.  They were tied to home and hearth until the Birth Control Pill was introduced in the early 1960’s.  They didn’t truly control their own bodies until the Rowe vs. Wade decision by the Supreme Court in 1973.  They spent the generations working toward equal rights, equal opportunity  and equal pay in the workplace.

In 1776, Gay People did not exist.  Or so the Religious Right and their allies would like folks to believe…Of course, there have always been Gay people and Gay Relationships.  I can make some people’s heads explode with my theories on what was really going on between David and Jonathan in biblical times…but, I digress.

In short, there were no specific protections for Gay People in either the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution.  I’ll grant the right-wing this point.

However, look back at the words…. Life….Liberty….Pursuit of Happiness…Safety…Happiness….The intent is clear.

Today, Gay People still are not legally protected.  We can still be fired from our jobs just for being Gay.  No legal protection.  We can still be denied hospital visitation rights for our partners as our relationships are not legally recognized.  We cannot protect joint property and inheritance rights without expensive legal paperwork- that is still subject to challenge.  We cannot serve openly in the Military.  The list goes on.  Even in the post “Will and Grace” era, we still have a lot of work to do…

Freedom is not something that happens because a bunch of men sign a piece of paper.  I’m a descendent of one of those signers:  Dr Benjamin Rush of Philadelphia.  And I still don’t have the all same rights in the same context that he had then…Because I’m Gay.

We all have to keep working on freedom.  Both winning it and keeping it.  We can’t just treat it as a word or celebrate it one day a year.

That’s why it’s so important we make informed decisions at the ballot box.  That’s why it’s important we call our representatives in Congress and make our opinions known.  That’s why we have to watch those representatives and vote them out of office, either in Primaries or General Elections, when they do the bidding of the few, the elite and the Corporations, instead of the People.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men– and women– are created equal.  All.  No exceptions.  Enough said.

So, enjoy the day.  Cookout,  Drink and party. Watch fireworks.

And tomorrow, remember to keep working on keeping our dreams of Freedom alive.