The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America (1776)

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain undeniable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

My interpretation of this quote is that they are trying to explain to Great Britain that they are ready to become their own nation. They want to prosper and be treated equal. It is a given right by God that we all should have the right to liberty, to be able to dictate how our own life runs, as well as to be happy while trying to achieve these. They believe that the nation is self-efficient to be able to govern them, to be able to propose their own laws and they no longer want to be restrained by theirs.

I choose this quote simply because this is my belief, I believe that we all are created equal, and should not be restrained by any significant power. We all have the right to have liberty, live life and chase for our happiness. God created us in such a way and we are entitled to make our own decisions. A declaration to being always true to ones beliefs is why I choose this quote.

On Liberty By: John Winthrop

The covenant between you and us is the oath you have taken us, which is to this purpose: that we shall govern you and judge your causes by the rules of God’s laws and our own according to our best skill. When you agree with a workman to build you a ship or house, etc., he undertakes as well for his skill as for his faithfulness, for it is his profession, and you pay him for both. But when you call one to be a magistrate, he doth not profess nor undertake to have sufficient skill for that office, nor can you furnish him with gifts, etc., therefore you must run the hazard of his skill and ability. But if he fails in faithfulness, which by his oath he is bound unto, that he must answer for. If it fall out that the case be clear to common apprehension, and the rule clear also, if he transgress here, the error is not in the skill, but in the evil of the will: it must be required of him. But if the case be doubtful, or the rule doubtful, to men of such understanding and parts as you magistrates are, of your magistrates should err here, yourselves must bear it.

The author John Winthrop is explaining to the people that he was chosen to be the governor by them, that he is to govern the city with the principles of god and his own opinions as well. With a sense of authority that he still may have felt he had, he explained to them that they took a chance with him and with an example of a workman building something he being hired because the person already expects his job to be done well based on his skill that it’s his profession. The workman is being paid based on such, but on the other hand he was hired based on faith and that basically the people could have not had any expectations on how he was supposed to perform his job. He could not be bride or paid to do something otherwise than what he wants following the principles of god. And therefore they must attain to the consequences of what he decides. If he was to fail upon gods wishes then he would have to answer because god is the only one that can judge him.

I choose this quote because unfortunately that is just how thing end up being when you choose a politician in to power. One can never expect what the outcome will be and just have to leave it to them to decide. No bribes or money mentioning that now would be illegal can make them change their mind and the outcome will be what they determine to be. If by any means they are to fault society they can’t even answer to society but to other politicians that will make their decisions based on what they want, the consideration of the better well-being of society is not much there if there is any at all. Seems like not much has changed in politics from then till now, the mistakes are still there and the ways of fixing them remain the same as well. I guess for those who vote, can only sit and see what more changes will be done, hoping that the next person in power would do better things than the last.

What is America? G.K. Chesterson

Now in a much vaguer and more revolutionary fashion, there is something of the same idea at the back of the great American experiment; the experiment of democracy of diverse races which has been compared to a melting-pot. But even that metaphor itself implies that the pot itself is of a certain shape and a certain substance; a pretty solid substance. The melting-pot must not melt. The original shape was traced on the lines of Jeffersonian democracy; and it will remain in that shape until it becomes shapeless. America invites all men to become citizens; but it implies the dogma that there is such a thing as citizenship.

The author means that America is an inviting nation, where people from different races are welcomed in the country. Viewed as a positive element to society as opposed to what other may think that it would affect such in a negative way. This creates beauty and unity, as to the melting-pot, all these immigrants and citizens all placed in the "pot" once it begins to "melt" the outcome would be an accepting one. Everyone is welcomed to become citizens, and the equal rights to all. Although they are inviting to all immigrants there is still controversy on what it is to be a citizen, where contradictions exist and rights are not always so equal.

I choose this quote in the reading simply because I agree that a melting-pot is a wonderful aspect to a country. Diversity is a key aspect to a working nation, different views and beliefs will bring discussion, but it will also allow people to be open-minded and see things in a different way. Yes, I agree with the melting-pot, yet I strongly agree with the contradiction that there is when it comes to being a citizen. The message that is being sent out is equal rights of all citizens and non-citizens in America. This is in complete opposite of what the truth is, what has been preached is not exactly true. The talk about equal opportunity to all people who live here is not as such, there are certain rights that are only given to teh citizen of this country. For example the right to vote is only given to citizens, there are certain jobs that are only allowed to be issued to citizens, as well as certain legal matters affect those immigrants greatly as opposed to citizens. There are certain benefits that only citiznens can have. The contardiction is there and the fact the the rights are not equal exist, so there is such a thing as being a citizen and many benefits that come with it.