The things you find on the internet! From the CBS series You Are There, broadcast on April 26, 1953, looking at the Declaration of Independence as if if were a contemporary news event. Two observations. First, amazing how much more patriotic institutions like CBS were seven decades ago, hatred for this nation still being a minority view among self proclaimed elites in this country. Second, viewing the Declaration as a contemporary document is precisely how it should be viewed. It is a timeless statement of first principles regarding government and human freedom and in many ways it remains just as radical and dangerous, if not more so, in this year of grace 2025 as it did in 1776. The American Revolution is not merely a historical event bound by the years 1775-1783, but a process which is ongoing and still being played out here and around the globe.
I’m still amazed at how many (yes, even conservatives) view the DOI (and the Bill of Rights) as mere documents, which then would allow a handful of politically appointed lawyers in robes to alter them, making them meaningless.
They are not just documents or legalisms to be interpreted or misinterpreted, but a codification of stated factual core principles that exist, regardless of what anyone or any entity does to the documents themselves. Toss a bible into a fire and God still exists, exactly as before, and so does the reality that man due to the innate relationship he has with his Creator since birth, has a certain unique dignity, thus rights…and seldom mentioned…responsibilities.
The Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution established the separation of powers, due process, and the rule of law. This decentralization of power is unacceptable to the totalitarian left that craves power.
Fun fact: almost 50 years later, in 2002-03, Cronkite would BE Ben Franklin in the animated series “Liberty’s Kids” on PBS (which was quite good and was a favorite of my daughter’s). You can watch most if not all episodes on YouTube.
My kids when they were kids watched some episodes of that show Elaine.
I’m still amazed at how many (yes, even conservatives) view the DOI (and the Bill of Rights) as mere documents, which then would allow a handful of politically appointed lawyers in robes to alter them, making them meaningless.
What’s interesting about the Supreme Court is that the current crew have a great deal of tony schooling and experience as appellate judges. In a tick-box way, they’re much more impressive than the sort of character you found on the court 70 years ago. The trouble is, with the decline of the honor culture in this country, what that intelligence is put to is verbose excuses to avoid making a decision or to give their political clientele what said clientele want.