All men are created equally free and independent, and have certain inherent rights, of which they cannot, by any compact, deprive or divest their posterity; among which are the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing the obtaining of happiness and safety.
What a shame they didn't extend that to slaves and minorities. It seems we get wrapped up too much in fancy rhetoric. Currently, we apply it to everyone [supposedly], while ignoring that, when written, it applied to a small proportion of the population. We need to recognize the hypocrisy in which talk of rights, freedom and liberty was immersed in during the Revolutionary Era.
