The Declaration of Independence: A Transcription

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,

" endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights"

Sky fairies, imaginary friends, flying spaghetti monsters, Zeus, Apollo, Yahweh, Jesus , Danu, Johava, Krishna, Vishnu. Or some old Babylonian deities like the sky god Anu, the storm god Enlil, and the water god Ea. I'm down with all of them, the more the merrier I say. Diversity, it just makes life grand.

Now the G*d of Zoroaster "Ahura Mazda" it was a bitching deity for it's time. It really knew what it wanted and so it was written in stone (pottery) so as not to be forgotten. The first "rights" of man were granted by "Ahura Mazda". But in twenty first century America, you are more than likely to think of an affordable Japanese Sedan when you hear of "Ahura Mazda ". Now, it's got a four cylinder engine, atomatic transmission and rolls down the road on 14 inch rims.

But back in the day, old "Ahura Mazda" granted rights the likes of which had never been seen.

....... Cyrus, King of Kings, King of Persia, King of Babylon, King of Sumer and Akad, King of Elam and Anshan, King of ......., King of all nations of the four quarters, have dictated a new world order , for the man to be free, for the man to live as he pleases and be protected by The Law, all men to have rights, all men to have dignity, all men to freely choose their religion, respect to all's religion, respect to all's tradition, respect to all's property, respect to all's humanity......

...... by the will of Ahura Mazda , all Satrap (Governors), subordinates and subjects of the Empire, nations of the four quarters, shall respect the traditions, celebrations and various gods and religions of The Persian Empire . We shall not rule by force and oppress no nation . Each is free to accept or reject, we shall bestow internal autonomy to all Khashtara (states) and not to oppress any region in to submission ...... may Ahura Mazda aid and guide us ......

The first "Human Right Document" Ever in The World 538 B.C.

http://iranpoliticsclub.net/history/cyrus-cylinder/index.htm

" may Ahura Mazda aid and guide us" ......

"A. Mazda " was a " vehicle " for change in the sixth century BC, but it lost it's "Mo-Jo". It's "pimp hand" grew weak, no one recognised it, or it's power to grant rights after a period of time.

So man slowly eroded them, one by one by natural progress, and "the more progressive" acquired them exclusively for themselves . They were no longer "Divine" rights, they were at the will of the ruler or potentates. Forward, ever forward man marches. They were not fixed in time and place as eternal as "Ahura Mazda" intended.

I don't care what sky fairy, deity, or if you wish to call it a delusion you recognise, so long as you recognise the rights "Divine" origin as the writers of the document did over two hundred years past.

In America it's not government who grants rights. Here, in America we know that "rights" granted by man, can be taken by man.

That is why even though we are a secular nation, your rights are granted by a sky fairy.

When a sky fairy descends from the heavens, then and only then, are certain rights negotiable

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator

Rights granted by the "sky fairy" concept, can't be messed with by man. One big plus, in recognising the something other concept, or "sky fairy" idea.(LOL) rights granted by "collective action" can be rescinded.

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,

http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html

if you want to infringe on my unalienable rights, please bring your "sky fairy" of your choice with you, you'll need him, her, or it.

A demonstration of omnipotence will be required of your deity before we start talking about giving any of them G*d granted rights back.

A pagan's perspective.