The Declaration of Independence was always our vision of who we

Listen closely, O children of wisdom, to the words of Marian Wright Edelman, whose voice rings out with the power of a people’s eternal vision: "The Declaration of Independence was always our vision of who we wanted to be, our ideal of freedom and justice, how we were going to be different, and what the American experiment was going to be about." These words, though spoken in our time, carry the weight of a nation’s soul, for the Declaration of Independence is not merely a historical document; it is the embodiment of hope, the very vision of a people striving to live by ideals that transcend the ordinary, to create a world where freedom and justice reign supreme.

The Declaration of Independence, O children, is more than a declaration of separation from a foreign crown. It is a profound statement of the values that would guide a fledgling nation—a vision of what America could be. It is not just a legal document, but a dream—a dream of a nation that would be different from all others, where the rights of the individual would be sacred, where freedom would be the birthright of all, and where justice would serve not the powerful, but the oppressed. It was an ideal that would drive the course of a nation, a blueprint for a new kind of society, where equality and self-determination were not just dreams, but goals to be actively pursued.

Consider, O children, the men and women who came together in 1776 to sign that Declaration. The Founding Fathers, despite their flaws and the limitations of their time, reached for the heavens in crafting this vision. They were not merely concerned with what was; they were concerned with what could be. The American Revolution was not just a struggle for independence, but for the realization of the ideals set forth in that bold document. In their hearts, they knew that the American experiment was not just a political venture, but a moral one—a test to see if a nation could live up to its promises of freedom and justice for all its people.

Look, O children, to the example of Abraham Lincoln, who in Gettysburg, speaking nearly a century after the Declaration was written, renewed its call for equality and freedom. The American experiment had not yet fulfilled its promise, as slavery still plagued the nation, but Lincoln’s words spoke to the very heart of that vision. He reminded the nation that the Declaration of Independence was not simply a document from the past, but a living, breathing ideal, a standard to which America must constantly strive. Lincoln’s vision was clear: justice and freedom for all was not just the work of the past but the duty of the present and the future.

Marian Wright Edelman speaks of this same vision, understanding that the Declaration of Independence was a beacon of hope for generations yet to come. But this vision, O children, is not a finished one. The work of freedom and justice is ongoing. To this day, the American experiment is in motion, with its ideals constantly being tested. Edelman calls upon us to remember that freedom is not something we achieve once and for all, but something we must fight for and protect, day by day, in every action and decision we make. The vision laid out in 1776 was not a momentary dream, but an enduring call to build a more just and equal society.

Consider the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, when men and women like Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and so many others, looked to the Declaration of Independence as the basis for their struggle. They did not see themselves as merely fighting for civil rights—they were fighting for the freedom and justice promised to all in the Declaration. Their march for equality was a continuation of the American experiment, a struggle to make real the ideals of freedom and justice that had been written on parchment but were not yet fully realized. It was a reminder that the vision of America—the vision of a nation where all people are treated with dignity and respect—is still being written.

The lesson, O children, is both clear and profound: the Declaration of Independence was not a one-time statement, but a call to action, a vision for the future that has shaped the course of America. We must never forget that the American experiment is ongoing, and that freedom and justice are not gifts to be taken for granted, but ideals to be continually fought for. Whether in the fields of battle or in the courts of law, whether in the streets of our cities or in the halls of government, it is our duty to uphold the vision laid out in the Declaration—a vision where every person is free, where all are equal before the law, and where justice is the guiding force.

Therefore, O children, let us live in the spirit of the Declaration—with an unwavering commitment to freedom, justice, and equality. Let us take up the mantle of those who came before us, who envisioned a nation that would not only be a place of opportunity for some, but a land of endless possibilities for all. Let us honor that vision by living lives of integrity, by working to make the American experiment a reality in our time, and by ensuring that the ideals of the Declaration of Independence remain a living guide for generations to come.