By Jim Dickson
“We hold these truths to be self-evident.”
Almost any American past the age of 35 and probably 100% of immigrants who have passed the test for citizenship know what these words are and where they came from. They were written by one of the most intelligent and learned men to ever hold the Presidency – Thomas Jefferson.
When John F. Kennedy was President he held a dinner in the White House for a group of the brightest in the nation. He made this statement: “This is perhaps the assembly of the most intelligence ever to gather at one time in the White House, with exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone.”
In the Declaration of Independence Jefferson explained why it was necessary for the American colonies to separate themselves from England. Those were powerful words, and with those words, nine years of hardship and struggle for what was to become the United States of America began. The signers of the Declaration pledged to each other their “Lives, Fortunes and Sacred Honor,” and before it was over, most gave all but their honor.
Jefferson was a man of his times, but he also had a vision of a bright future for the fledgling nation and was instrumental in bringing much of that vision to fruition. He also saw some of the pitfalls that might be waiting. Here are a few of his thoughts:
“Whenever people are well informed, they can be trusted with their own Government.“
“It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle which if acted on, would save one-half of the wars of the world.”
”If we can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people, under the pretense of taking care of them, they must become happy.”
“I, however, place economy among the first most important virtues, and public debt as the greatest of dangers to be feared.”
Jefferson and all of the signers of the Declaration were not perfect men. Like most of us today, they had flaws, and to say that they didn’t is wrong. But not to give them credit for what they accomplished and what they gave up to make it so is to rewrite history, and the only people who have ever benefited from rewriting history are tyrants.
Today most of us are not asked to pledge our “Lives, Fortunes and Sacred Honor” to be good citizens. For the most part, all we are asked to do is to be honest, considerate of our fellow citizens, pay taxes, be productive and make our own way in life, if we can. Do our best to elect leaders who have the best interests of the nation above their own.
Jefferson served two terms as President, and during those two terms, he changed the course of the nation and without his leadership and vision America would be a very different place than it is today. Many Americans today think that the nation is on the wrong path, and soon we will have a chance to change that direction.
Is there another Thomas Jefferson out there? I don’t know, but I do believe that there are some who share his values. Please look for them when you vote, our future as a republic depends on it.
Born, raised and educated in the Southwest, Jim Dickson served in the U.S. Navy Reserve in Vietnam before a 35-year business career. Retired to St. Helena Island, Dickson and his wife are fiscally conservative, socially moderate and active in Republican politics, though they may not always agree with Republicans. Having lived around the country and traveled around the world, Dickson believes that the United States truly is the land of opportunity.
