I think someone said it far better than me long ago.

In Congress, July 4, 1776

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

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…

I wish all of my fellow citizens well. No matter how foreboding the news may seem on any given day, let’s pause and remember that we are a nation born in a cauldron of fire, summoned into existence by men and women who paid a bloody price for their freedom and bequeathed to us an obligation to hold it. They faced hardships which most of us in the modern era couldn’t imagine and launched a bold experiment which remains unique in its embrace of freedom, individuality and a belief that there truly is something noble and good in mankind. We came onto the stage embroiled in battle and that fight continues to this day.

We all share a great gift left to us by the founders. Recall the woman who once asked Ben Franklin if we had gotten a republic or a monarchy. He replied, “A republic, if you can keep it.”

We’ve kept it. And we shall continue to do so no matter who attempts to bring it down.

Have a great day. Hot Air will return to its normal publication schedule tomorrow morning.