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Commentary
"Rebellion to Tyrants is Obedience to God"
echoes the Declaration of Independence:
"We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. . . whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive to these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, 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 Question Today:
Do the people of one nation (or a coalition) have the right to alter or abolish another nation's form of government? Or, are the people of that nation alone responsible for their own government and its leaders – no matter how feared or despised by others?
Nations have long used might to alter or abolish other governments. Now, however, we're looking at the right to do so.
The word government originates from an ancient word meaning "to steer or pilot," as with a ship. First and foremost, that ship's passengers and crew must be able to travel safely to their destination.
What is America's Goal?
According to the Declaration of Independence, it is to provide people with the opportunity to experience life and liberty, safety and happiness.
The Preamble to the U.S. Constitution elaborates:
We, the People of the United States are to:
- Form a more perfect union
- Establish justice
- Insure domestic tranquility
- Provide for the common defense
- Promote the general welfare
- Secure the blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our posterity
These goals require a government with the power to protect its citizens. The framers of the U.S. Constitution understood this and included a provision (Article IV, Section 4) that essentially says: The United States shall protect its people from foreign invasion and from domestic violence. And many considered self-inflicted harm the more likely threat to America.
Learn about this power to protect ourselves at
DomesticViolenceClause.org.
"All the armies of Europe, Asia and Africa combined could not by force take a drink from the Ohio or make a track on the Blue Ridge, in a trial of a thousand years. At what point then is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reaches us, it must spring up amongst us. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher." – Abraham Lincoln
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Thomas Jefferson liked the motto "Rebellion to Tyrants is Obedience to God" so much, he used it on his personal seal. Also, it seems to have inspired the upper motto 