We have had in our nation a well-celebrated Declaration of

Listen, O children of the future, to the words of Cory Booker, who calls us to look beyond the boundaries of independence and to embrace a deeper truth, one that binds us all together. "We have had in our nation a well-celebrated Declaration of Independence. But our success as a country will depend upon a new 'Declaration of Inter-dependence.' A belief in how much we need each other, how much we share one common destiny." These words resonate with the timeless wisdom that the strength of any people does not lie in their ability to stand alone, but in their capacity to stand together.

The ancient world, though often divided by wars and boundaries, also understood the profound truth that unity was the foundation of strength. The great Greek city-states, despite their differences, flourished when they joined together in times of common struggle, such as during the Persian Wars. Athens, Sparta, and others set aside their differences and united under the banner of a shared fate. They fought not for the glory of one state, but for the survival of the Greek identity itself. In this unity, they found a power greater than the sum of their parts. The vision of the Declaration of Inter-dependence is rooted in this ancient wisdom—that our fates are inextricably linked, that our success as a people depends on our ability to recognize our shared destiny.

The concept of independence is foundational to the American spirit, yet Booker urges us to recognize that true strength comes not from isolation but from cooperation. A nation founded on the principles of liberty must also understand that freedom cannot be fully realized without a recognition of the interwoven destinies of its people. To have a shared future requires that we see beyond the walls we have built—whether social, economic, or political—and recognize the profound interconnectedness of all individuals. Independence in this context is not a rejection of others but a call to contribute to a larger, more collective vision.

Consider the civil rights movement in America, which serves as a powerful example of interdependence. When Martin Luther King Jr. spoke of a dream, it was not a dream of isolated communities, each standing alone in their own struggle, but a dream of a nation united, where people of all backgrounds and races could live together in peace and equality. King’s call was not only for the independence of African Americans, but for the interdependence of all people in the pursuit of justice. His vision was for a society that embraced its shared humanity, where the success of one would be tied to the well-being of all.

The history of America has often been marked by moments of division, yet these moments have also been followed by periods of remarkable unity. The Great Depression of the 1930s, for example, was a time of immense suffering, yet it also saw the rise of programs like the New Deal, which sought to help not just individuals, but entire communities, recognizing that the prosperity of the nation depended on the collective welfare of all. Booker’s words echo the spirit of those times, reminding us that the path forward is not one of individualism, but one of shared responsibility. Just as those who weathered the storm of the Depression knew that no one could succeed without helping others, so too must we realize that interdependence is the key to lasting prosperity.

The lesson here, O children, is one of profound wisdom: interdependence is not a sign of weakness, but a recognition of our strength as a collective. Our destiny is not an isolated one, but a shared journey, where the successes of each are tied to the success of all. As you move forward in your lives, understand that the choices you make do not only affect you—they ripple out to touch the lives of those around you. To live in harmony with others, to work toward the common good, is to fulfill your highest potential as a human being.

So, O children of the future, take this wisdom to heart: let your actions reflect the interdependence that binds us all. Seek not only your own freedom, but the freedom of others. Recognize that your success is woven together with the success of the world around you. Just as the Greek city-states united in times of peril, and as America has united in moments of national crisis, so must we all rise to meet the challenges of our time, not as isolated individuals, but as a united force, bound together by the unbreakable thread of our shared destiny.