When is the time to fight?
It is a timeless problem we have when it comes to fighting over meaningless things. There are three types of people when it comes to this. The people will fight over any issue no matter what it is or how little it matters. There are the people who will have no part in the fighting no matter how much it matters. But finally, there are the people who know what to fight for because they understand the weight of the issue.
It is the latter option which we must strive to be like. (If you are this example then comment on what I do not mention in this article, but should have below!) It takes a work of enlightenment – in its true definition, “the release of self-incurred tutelage” – to gain this discernment of when is a good time to fight. However, we have our ancestors to thank for a solid foundation in this issue.
Risking the punishment of treason, our founding fathers published the Declaration of Independence sending the United States of America into all-out war. The opening lines state that in any circumstance where people and government are to separate, the opposition is entitled to know why. So they tell England why they need to fight in the second section by writing:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to 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.”
Declaration of Independence
We all know the first couple lines by heart and probably have a funny impersonation of George Washington saying them despite the truth in that thought. But, those opening lines are important to understand what impelled these men to fight.
“Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” are the rights that shall not be suppressed by the government. To fight for these things are honorable and that is evident by the example of the American Revolutionary War. We are to fight for life because nobody deserves to die without due justice. Liberty is necessary for without it a person is not truly able to live. Lastly, every man/woman has the right to pursue happiness because it cannot be given to a man, but they should be able to pursue whatever makes them enjoy life.
All of these rights are connected, but not the same. Yet, they are all necessary to a properly lived life. The authors furthered this by claiming governments are never established for themselves, but for the people and therefore it shall not be above the power of the people. For when a government becomes destructive to the natural rights of a people, the people need to have the ability to fight for a change in it, fight against it, or start a whole new government.
With these fundamental truths in mind, our founding fathers laid the foundations of our government that we might be able to secure our freedoms. Through our Constitution, we are given our freedom which all started with the beliefs of the Declaration of Independence.
We have the ability to fight because of what our founding fathers believed. We need to cherish this ability, but also take it into consideration with their wisdom. If a government is oppressive, if a bill that is passed removes our liberty, if we are no longer able to pursue happiness, it is our duty to ourselves and to our fellow citizens to fight and change the wrongs which suppress our beliefs.
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”
Daniel 3: 16-18
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