The American founding still provides answers today. Robert Curry writes:
Why does the Declaration of Independence proclaim “We hold these truths to be self-evident” instead of simply stating that “We believe it is true”?
This is actually a good question. Answering it can teach us a lot about the Founding.
When we recall what the world was like in the Founders’ time, the answer becomes clear. The world in those days operated on the basis of utter inequality. Whether the ruler was a king who claimed to rule by divine right or an emperor who claimed the mandate of Heaven, society was essentially the same everywhere, consisting of monarchs and their subjects, rulers and the ruled. This was simply accepted as the way of things.
[Robert Curry, "We Still Hold These Truths,” RealClearBooks, November 11]
