Here are some everyday threesomes: Win, lose, or draw; faith, hope, and charity; snap, crackle, and pop; love, honor, and cherish. There are many more.
None, however, can top Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness, the threesome serving as a bright and lofty beacon for everyone.
Those unalienable rights first drafted in the Declaration of Independence serve as the anchor for all the words expressed in the United States Constitution. They speak of the deep thought and sound logic of those few great people who wrote that document with humble sincerity and fervent hope. In remarkable fashion, both the constitution and its associated bylaws continue to serve the purpose and mission of what is still a relatively new country.
The writers of those documents, however, were aware of the strong courage needed to forever honor and enforce those words, to protect them from shortsightedness, greed, or lust for power that would cause their meanings to become diluted and eventually meaningless.
Every generation since then has had to shoulder that responsibility, even if it meant sacrificing their lives. In that ultimate test of devotion, their blood has stained the soil in other lands around the world. If it hadn’t been for their unshaken heroism, our nation would’ve crumbled long ago, a terrible loss not only for us but also the rest of the world.
That’s because the United States has always encouraged and done its best to make possible that which humanity has always sought — life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
LIFE means providing a safe, healthy, and protected environment in which human beings can live their lives. LIBERTY means that people, both individually and collectively, are free to be all they wish to be or are capable of becoming. PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS means enjoying the results of one’s labors while immersed in the love and companionship of relatives and friends.
Yet, for all of that, there have always been people wanting to taint the American way with faulty and intrusive definitions and impossible to achieve idealism. They’ve caused the true and honorable statement that all men are created equal to be twisted and distorted to read that all men are equal despite the fact they aren’t, never have been, and never will be. That’s because all other factors aside, every human being is unlike any other.
Whatever inequality there is lies both in what opportunities are available and the willingness of people to assume full responsibility for taking advantage of those opportunities. As harsh as that might sound, every ancient or modern attempt to disprove that reality has eventually ended in utter failure.
That critical point, no matter how strong and convincing, is ignored by those consumed with their dream of a utopian paradise. If on purpose, it’s because of their lust for power. If by accident, it’s because of ignorance and a glaring lack of historical reference. Indeed, logic asks this question: How many times have you touched a hot stove despite having seen others foolishly do that and suffer intense pain?
The future lies not in attempting to change America’s form of government, but rather in protecting, improving and enhancing what already exists. After all, its constitution already provides for a safe haven where, within certain moral and legal boundaries, people can determine their existence in whatever way they wish. By their own judgements and commitments, they can take advantage of every opportunity to learn, prosper, and live the good life.
One needn’t go any farther to explain why America has long been an exciting place to live, where great things happen, where achievement can be whatever one wants it to be. Good and honest minds know that and are deeply thankful they were either born in America or accepted by it.
You must always remember that the words Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness define the deep and strong roots of your existence, and of every other soul fortunate enough to call America their home.
