On Independence Day

Statue of Liberty during the Annular Solar Eclipse on 10 June 2021 (photo from Wikimedia Commons) 4 July 2026 Today we celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia in 1776, 250 years ago today. We often hear a sentence or two from the Declaration but it’s worth a look today to see how well it holds up. I have transcribed the beginning below. NOTE: I added 1 paragraph break for readability. Beginning of the United States Declaration of Independence (first 288 words) In CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, 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, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.We…