The Declaration of Independence, signed on July 4, 1776, is one of the most important documents in American history. It declared the thirteen American colonies to be free and independent states, no longer subject to British rule. The document is a statement of the American people's right to self-determination and self-government, and it laid the foundation for the United States' democratic system of government.
However, Ven. Fulton Sheen's statement suggests that the Declaration of Independence is not just a statement of independence, but also a statement of dependence. This may seem paradoxical, but it reveals a fundamental truth about the nature of freedom.
Freedom, in the truest sense of the word, is not absolute. It is not the ability to do whatever we want, whenever we want, without regard for others or for the common good. Rather, true freedom is the ability to pursue the good, to choose the right path, and to live in accordance with our true nature as human beings.
In this sense, the Declaration of Independence is not just a declaration of independence from British rule, but also a declaration of dependence on certain fundamental truths and values. These include the belief in the inherent dignity and worth of every human being, the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and the idea that governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed.
The Declaration of Independence, then, is not just a rejection of tyranny and oppression, but also a statement of the American people's commitment to certain core values and principles. These values and principles are not arbitrary or subjective, but rather grounded in the natural law, which is the basis for all true human rights.
Moreover, the Declaration of Independence is not just a statement of dependence on certain fundamental truths and values, but also a statement of dependence on God. The document states that "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."
This statement is not just a rhetorical flourish, but a recognition of the fact that our rights and freedoms are not ultimately derived from any human authority or power, but from God himself. As Ven. Fulton Sheen once said, "Freedom is not the ability to do what we want, but to do what we ought." And what we ought to do is to live in accordance with the natural law and with God's will.
In conclusion, Ven. Fulton Sheen's statement that "The Declaration of Independence is a Declaration of Dependence" is a profound insight into the nature of freedom and human rights. The document is not just a statement of independence from tyranny and oppression, but also a statement of dependence on certain fundamental truths and values, and on God himself. It is a reminder that true freedom is not the ability to do whatever we want, but the ability to pursue the good and to live in accordance with our true nature as human beings.