Today we celebrate Independence Day, the day that our
forefathers declared that the colonies on this side of the
Atlantic are and by right free and independent states. The
Declaration of Independence has in it the phrase “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.” Although at the time these words were written, only
some men were recognized as individuals in their own right, this
idea that all men are created equal has morphed into a standard
including women and minorities of all types. This country was
founded on an idea. Many came to the colonies for religious
purposes or for business, but the basic core of our foundation
is the idea that all men and women are created equal. Not only
is this under law, but also that no barriers except what the
individual puts up can keep a person down. There are and will be
obstacles to achieving what one desi