Where I Stand—Brian Greenspun: Words to remember

Thursday, July 5, 2001 | 9:07 a.m.

Brian Greenspun is editor of the Las Vegas Sun.

"WHEN IN THE COURSE of human events ..."

With these words a collection of British colonists, fed up with taxation without representation and oppressed by others wishing to impose their cultural and religious Scriptures upon them, set about on a course of conduct that would change the world.

That was more than 200 years ago, and those words started the Preamble to the Declaration of Independence. That document, created and signed by some thoughtful and courageous men, remains a symbol to peoples around the world of what is possible in the affairs of man. It also should remind each of us that freedom --- the kind that was important to the colonists and, frankly, the only kind worth fighting and dying for --- usually comes at a very high price.

I thought of those words as I, like most Americans, celebrated the Fourth of July yesterday. I had the good fortune to be out of town, in cooler climes with ocean breezes, which always makes barbecuing more pleasant, but the message of those July 4th moments was the same.

I thought of our great country's place amongst the nations of the world. I wondered why our brief history on the world stage was seemingly so much more successful than most in the areas that I hold dear -- personal freedom and national security -- and why other countries with roots in history so much deeper than our own couldn't seem to get it right after centuries of trying.

And I wondered where our own experiment in democracy was heading, given the challenges of the moment and an apparent violation of some other words in that fateful and independent declaration signed 225 years ago.

I was also quite concerned about burning the meat and spilling the drinks, which may have put me in a much broader category of Americans, who happily live through the times with not much concern about life on this planet 50 years from now. Not that they aren't concerned, but more likely they have resigned themselves to the concept of having someone else look after those matters while they struggle with the week-to-week stuff.

"A decent respect for the opinions of mankind ..."

Those are some more words of brilliance from the Declaration, and although they were used in a different context, their meaning is instructive two centuries later.

These are the same words we consider in child rearing and the same words we must use in our relationships with our peers. Even Aretha Franklin understands the power of the message.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T!

I am a great believer in the concept of acting in the best interests of the United States. Call it selfish, but if it is thee or me? Watch out.

Having said that, there is nothing in the manual that says we shouldn't discuss our differences with our friends first -- before we act unilaterally and cause all kinds of problems at home for those whose friendship and support we need in order to survive. We need them not only to survive, but also, to quote another great American document, to continue to form a more perfect union for the 270 million Americans who depend upon good judgment.

As I watched the American flag unfurled and gently blowing in the wind as a sentry for all who require independence as if it is air to breathe, I wondered just how much our leaders will take those wonderful words of our forefathers to heart when conducting affairs of state.

They weren't easy to write, let alone act upon, some 200-plus years ago, so they shouldn't be discounted or ignored in 2001, when heeding them might make Independence Days 100 years hence so much more meaningful.

So, that's what I thought about yesterday. What about you? Were you able to spend a moment thinking about the exciting tomorrows our children can have, which we can secure for them?

Isn't that what July Fourth is all about? If not, shouldn't it be?