As I sat here, trying to form the words to begin this assignment, I turned to the image of our founding fathers in John Trumbull’s painting “Declaration of Independence” represented on Bellevue University’s Center for America’s Vision &Values website. During my examination of the painting and recalling the hardships of some of the depicted signers, I realized all of these men were mostly high regarded, well educated, and moderately wealthy men. When Thomas Jefferson wrote in the Declaration of Independence, “we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our Honor”, I wondered if each signer fully realized the voyage they were about to take as they paved the road to “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness”. It is
…show more content…
John Adams knew this when he penned a letter to his wife Abigail Adams, “I am well aware of the toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost us to maintain this Declaration”. Our sixth President, John Quincy Adams is quoted as …show more content…
They knew the cost for liberty would be high but also knew that if Independence was achieved, America would acquire something unique to their time; so unique in fact, that no other country had experienced it. Thomas Payne stated, “What we obtain too cheaply, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything value.” Simply put, if the cost for liberty had not been high, especially in lives, the value of liberty would not have been fully realized. The Encarta Dictionary defines liberty as “the freedom to think or act without being constrained by necessity or force”. I believe liberty or freedom is the one principle on which all others are dependent. However, based on that definition, I conclude a person is never truly free. Every American is bound by laws that some may say “Constrain” us or force us to live by the ideals, standards, and perceptions of others. If each of us were asked, “What does “Freedom” mean to you?” I’m confident there would be varied responses. Each of us is a product of our environment, thereby forming differing opinions and perceptions of freedom. For example, I was raised on a small humble farm in Northeastern
John Adams knew this when he penned a letter to his wife Abigail Adams, “I am well aware of the toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost us to maintain this Declaration”. Our sixth President, John Quincy Adams is quoted as …show more content…
They knew the cost for liberty would be high but also knew that if Independence was achieved, America would acquire something unique to their time; so unique in fact, that no other country had experienced it. Thomas Payne stated, “What we obtain too cheaply, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything value.” Simply put, if the cost for liberty had not been high, especially in lives, the value of liberty would not have been fully realized. The Encarta Dictionary defines liberty as “the freedom to think or act without being constrained by necessity or force”. I believe liberty or freedom is the one principle on which all others are dependent. However, based on that definition, I conclude a person is never truly free. Every American is bound by laws that some may say “Constrain” us or force us to live by the ideals, standards, and perceptions of others. If each of us were asked, “What does “Freedom” mean to you?” I’m confident there would be varied responses. Each of us is a product of our environment, thereby forming differing opinions and perceptions of freedom. For example, I was raised on a small humble farm in Northeastern