We came across a modern-language version of the Declaration of Independence, anonymously posted on a Web site. We made a few changes, and are publishing this simplified version in the hopes it will help a new generation grasp the meaning of what we celebrate today.
Actual phrases of the Declaration of Independence are in bold and enclosed in quotes, with the modern translation in a normal font.
“When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another …”
Whenever a group of people needs to separate themselves from their government …
“… and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them …”
… and assert their universal and God-given independence and equality…
“… a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.”
It’s important to clearly state the reasons why.
“…We hold these truths to be self-evident…”
We think it’s obvious…
“… that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights …”
…that God created every person equal, and He gave each person specific unchanging rights that should never be trampled upon…
“… that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness …”
these include the right of the people to live life in freedom without undue harm, and pursue their dreams and goals.
“That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed …”
The very reason we have man-made governments is to protect these rights, not to interfere with them. Furthermore, whatever power and authority governments have are given by the people’s permission and limited to their protection.
“…That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it …”
When any government starts to undermine the very purpose of protecting the life, freedoms, and happiness of the people, then they have the right to change the government or even to pull the plug on the government if things get too bad.
“…and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”
The people have the right to set up a new and better government based and organized upon tried and true principles that protect, rather than threaten, their safety and happiness.
“Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes;”
It’s not wise to change a long-standing government for some trivial or fleeting reason or for the latest political fad;
“and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.”
And, in fact, history shows that people are more likely to put up with unbearable evil–they even get used to it!, than they are to correct the problem. In other words: Put a frog in hot water and he’ll jump out. But put him in cool water and gradually turn up the heat, and he’ll boil to death.
“But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their Right, it is their Duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”
But when a government becomes tyrannical and abusive with consistent, repeated violations of the people’s rights, with the intent to make them slaves of the state, then the people have the right — in fact, the duty — to revolt and put new safeguards in place to protect their future rights.