“We hold these truths”: The U.S. Declaration of Independence at 250

As America celebrates its 250^th anniversary, it is worth taking a fresh look at the U.S. Declaration of Independence to rediscover how the principles embedded in this foundational document have provided the basis of a free society for a quarter-millennium. More than just a demand for freedom, and no mere list of grievances, David W. Livingstone regards the Declaration as a work of genius that speaks to all of humanity. In the worldview it propounds, human equality comes first, individual rights are intrinsic to that principle, and governments don’t “grant” rights but instead are formed to protect rights that every person already holds. The “truths” that America’s Founders proclaimed to be “self-evident”, Livingstone writes, have endured because they are true – and will continue to shine as a beacon for all.