Although the Second Continental Congress declared our independence on July 2, we once again celebrate this event on the fourth, when the Declaration of Independence was signed. The most recognized segment of the declaration is of course these words:

“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.”

Ironically, these words were an inspiration to America’s enslaved and free alike. Since the document’s signing, our country has spent centuries fighting over who gets to be endowed with those unalienable rights. This quarrel continues with the election of a President who accuses Black and brown people of stealing elections. Trump sees Muslim citizens as a Jihadist enemy, staying silent when they are killed by enraged bigots or their places of worship are flanked by armed belligerents. He believed the first Black president was a foreign interloper. The President is backed by forces determined to trample the human rights of LGBTQ citizens in the name of religious liberty.

Philando Castile, pictured above, was murdered by a representative of the State in the course of exercising his unalienable rights to a registered hand gun and to be secure in his person. The jury decided NOT to recognize these rights. Neither the President nor the National Rifle Association, alleged protectors of the 2nd Amendment, saw fit to comment on this obvious injustice.

The antidote to this unsavory situation is the simple recognition of our fellows as human beings deserving dignified Constitutional treatment. America needs to finally decide what we really stand for otherwise our annual celebration is no more meaningful than a chance to eat burnt hot dogs.