THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, July 13, 1996 TAG: 9607130006
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 36 lines
Thank you for printing the Declaration of Independence in its entirety. I actually read past ``We hold these truths to be self-evident. . . .''
Many of Mr. Jefferson's words ring true today:
The history of the present King (government) is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. . . .
1. He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
2. He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices. . . .
3. He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.
4. He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation.
5. For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world.
6. For imposing taxes on us without our consent.
7. He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us. . . .
8. Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Our obligation to our forefathers and ourselves is to take back our freedom. Freedom is more than ``making myself happy'' and an ``in your face attitude.''
SHERYL STANWORTH
Virginia Beach, July 6, 1996 by CNB