Saturday, July 02, 2005
Declaration of Independence
As I considered what to write yesterday, my thoughts turned to the upcoming Independence Day observance and celebration. How does this apply to local area business? I'm not sure it does, but to attempt to draw a parallel, I re-read the text of the Declaration of Independence. Other than being incredibly upset with a particular king and his prince, the declaration appears to be the result of a long suffering people. As a small business owner, I too embrace the "...unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness." Isn't that why I'm my own boss anyway?
I think many of us who own and operate our own business have made our own declaration of independence. Well, maybe not as formally as the official Declaration of Independence, but in theory we have made our own through action. Small business people want to be free to self govern their business and lives, to have the freedom to make decisions and even mistakes.
A slight rewrite of the statement in the last paragraph... "... have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which INDEPENDENT STATES may of right do." As an independent business owner, I want full power to compete in my market (levy War), to capture existing and new markets (conclude peace), to create new markets through partnerships and networking (contract Alliances), and to grow my business (establish Commerce), and to be free to do all other Acts and Things which INDEPENDENT BUSINESS OWNER may of right do.
I don't mean to take away from the significance of this observance and the great wisdom and courage it took to bring the Declaration of Independence to pass. We are fortunate that our founding fathers penned these famous words. We live in the greatest country in the world in no small part, due to their decisions and actions in 1776. I will be celebrating with family and friends with the hopes that we all celebrate our independence in gratitude for those who played a role in making it possible.
FULL TEXT from Wikipedia
We, therefore, the Representatives of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, in GENERAL CONGRESS, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the World for the Rectitude of our Intentions, do, in the Name, and by the Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly Publish and Declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be, FREE AND INDEPENDENT STATES; that they are absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political Connection between them and the State of Great-Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as FREE AND INDEPENDENT STATES, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which INDEPENDENT STATES may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm Reliance on the Protection of the divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.
