The Heart of the Declaration of Independence

Though you never hear it quoted:

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.

Does this mean that we should use violent means? Of course not. Indeed, the new government established in war soon became its own tyranny. For moral and practical reasons, we must adhere to peaceful means only. We can bring down even absolute despotism by withholding our consent.

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10:37 am on July 3, 2010