Let’s all celebrate High Treason

Back in 1776, a group of British subjects, men of stature and position, signed a document that proved conclusively they were committing high treason. Today we would call it Exhibit Number One at their hanging.

Their chances of success weren’t all that good, England held the most powerful military on Earth, and had all the muscle they needed to crush these rebels like grapes.

More signatures were added later, but they all walked in knowing what the stakes were. I find this line to be almost chilling, but very few take the time to interpret what it’s actually saying: “… with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”

They weren’t kidding either. The penalty for this kind of treason was death. These were educated men, with something to lose, but they consciously chose to move ahead.

Americans are not held in high regard these days, even within our own borders. Still, the ramifications of the Declaration of Independence circled the globe and changed the course of history forever. Even the British monarch no longer holds the kind of power held in 1776. I think those ideals in the document are something we can all still support.

Happy Fourth of July from Entertaining Stories. You guys be careful with fireworks out there now.

Still reading? You really should go have a beer and a hotdog. As a late addition I find that Jefferson should have used an Oxford comma. I also find it interesting that he wrote honor, as opposed to honour. It was written by a British subject at the time. Finally, knowing the military odds, I think divine Providence must have played a role in the outcome.