What Might They Be Thinking Today

I can’t help but wonder what those brave men who signed the Declaration of Independence would think about their decision today after placing their lives and those of their families, their lands, and businesses all in jeopardy. Would they think it was worth the price many of them, and those dear to them, would have to pay if they could visit us today? 

Today, all we can do is speculate and ponder what they might think of this grand experiment they had a hand in creating while weighing the cost of the estimated 25,000 to 70,000 lives which is estimated as the number of casualties of the war.

Hindsight, of course, is 20/20, and today we have a magnificent view in the rearview mirror of history. Think about it - if during your lifetime, you had the benefit of seeing into the future, would you have made some of the same decisions in your past?

The decisions made by the 56 gentlemen in 1776 by virtue of their signing of the Declaration of Independence were probably one of the most salient decisions ever made by man. Yes, it was a watershed moment concerning not only the American Experience but for men and women all over the globe if you take the time to think about it.

Although the news would travel very slowly in those days, its arrival throughout the colonies of the British Empire throughout the globe would ignite a passion in the hearts of all men and women who would live in abject poverty in lands far away from London, Paris, Holland, Spain, Portugal and other European nations spanning the globe.

I’m not foolish enough to tell you that the thirst for freedom was quenched by one revolution or a few days on the calendar. Many lives over the years have been lost in seeking the many freedoms which today we sometimes take for granted. 

Even after the defeat of the British on the battlefield, those brave men were about to face a greater battle as they sat amongst themselves to create a framework for governing themselves, despite their conflicting interests. Imagine facing men of the stature of Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, Sam Adams, and Richard Henry, all fearful of a strong central government with too much power.

While across the table would sit men such as Ben Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, Gouverneur Morris, George Washington, and Robert Morris Jr.. Men who favored a strong central government but without the British.

These men sat in solidarity in their decision to throw off the yoke of the Colonial power but were torn on how to proceed after their victory but would eventually overcome their differences and proceed.

I imagine if we were to be witnesses to those deliberations, we might ache over some of the ramblings of today’s politicians on all levels of government currently. I am joking, of course, probably not! 

I would question whether the introduction of cameras might have even infected those statesmen of long ago, therefore affecting the quality of documents they were able to create so many years ago. Documents that are held today in such reverence around the globe.

The Declaration of Independence, The Bill of Rights, The Constitution and the Federalist Papers are all forward-thinking papers that have captured the imagination of both Americans and visitors to our museums. Such wonderful works influenced so many around the world.

Yes, I do believe someone who was brought here today from our humble beginnings would marvel at how far we have come as a nation and a people. My hope would be that they would find a nation that has its roots wrapped around many cultures, nationalities, and religions while proudly respecting them all.

I know they would find a people who are not perfect in nature but have learned many difficult lessons along the way. They would also find a citizenry who has opened their arms to others as well as their “time, talent and treasure” to assist so many in need.

We can also proudly say we have never used our great might to occupy other lands for nationalistic gain as a nation but instead to free those oppressed peoples from tyrants whose desires are to oppress the weak. Our investment in those endeavors can be seen by the small white crosses which dot the landscapes of foreign lands where our best and brightest lie in their final resting places as a reminder of the cost of freedom.

Those great visionaries from our humble beginnings would light a fire here on these shores, which would burn brightly while encouraging others to pursue a path as we did to respect the rights of the individual while building a nation and a national spirit that is second to none.

I believe they would be pleased with what has been accomplished and wish us well as we continue to improve on the vision they had so many years ago.