07/04/2026
An object in motion...
Make no mistake, by July of 1776 the despotic ignorance of feudalism had long been given its notice. Free thought, lively public discourse, the pursuit of facts and the Rule of Law were by no means extinguished during the so-called "dark ages." They condensed in pockets around the Mediterranean, where critical thinking, science, human expression and craftsmanship barely missed a beat, even while the rest of medieval Europe was embroiled in countless tribal feuds to determine which armed clans would be able to exploit the resources (human and natural) of which territory and for how long (and all by "divine right", of course). "At the feudal level," stated Harvard political science professor Samuel Huntington (1927-2008), "Western civilization was rarely civilized, but the genuine good in our species is surprisingly irrepressible."
And so it is. Even amidst a constant parade of antiquated tyrants, humankind produced Leonardo, Galileo, Kepler and Bacon, Huygens and Newton, Descartes and Spinoza, John Locke of England and our own dear Benjamin Franklin of Boston (for his first 17 years) and Philadelphia (for his remaining 67). Each of those individuals (in company with thousands of other artists, thinkers, teachers and scientists) spent much of their lives reminding us of the innate goodness that we share, and of our mutual responsibility toward one another:
"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."
Just twenty-six miles (as the crow flies) from our front door, on July 2, 1776, thirty-eight delegates from thirteen American States (formerly colonies) cast twelve votes (with New York abstaining), entering the stream of Liberty that already ran through the beating heart of our New-World experiment. Two-hundred-fifty years ago today, the final edition of our simple, direct and eloquent explanation to the world was adopted and proclaimed from the steps of that same Philadelphia building at 520 Chestnut Street. The delegates knew it as the Pennsylvania State House. To us it's Independence Hall, and its fabled Assembly Room is always waiting to welcome you.
Today, July 4, wasn't the beginning, nor was it the end (e.g. it will take nearly 12 years before the United States Constitution is passed). That said, the Fourth is still and always a remarkable touchstone. And it belongs to each of us.
Happy birthday, friends. Be safe out there. We'll see you very soon... at the House.
PS: Just a little additional reading / viewing, as always...
The Declaration of Independence at the National Archives:
https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript
The Age of Reason / Enlightenment - A brief refresher:
https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/age-enlightenment
(In the grand scheme of things, this is fairly recent history. The ABT article isn't comprehensive by any means. This was a complicated piece of history, marred by both imperialism and industrialism, but it's still a remarkable chapter in our shared and ongoing story.)
John Adams (HBO Miniseries)
https://www.amazon.com/John-Adams-Season-1/dp/B00687PWQG/
(Today, you might particularly enjoy Episode 2 - "Independence")
Samuel P. Huntington
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Samuel-P-Huntington
