'That all men are created equal ...'

Thomas Jefferson wrote his own epitaph to be published at his death, citing what he believed were the three major accomplishments of his life. He stated he was author of the Declaration of Independence, the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom, and the articles that created the University of Virginia. It should be noted he believed having created these written documents was more important than the fact that he served as president of the United States. He believed "The pen is mightier than the sword" and that the written word would shape the future.

Of all the words Thomas Jefferson brought together in such beautiful form, none shaped the history of America and of the world more than these from the Declaration of Independence: "That all men are created equal, that they are endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness."

It is from these words freedom sprung to life across the 13 colonies and, later, all around the globe. Before Jefferson wrote this momentous statement, mankind was locked in a constant battle with "The Divine Right of Kings" -- a philosophy that promoted the belief that kings were given their authority by God, and to question their actions was to question God. This philosophy made all people subject to the whim of authority, no matter how restrictive or tyrannical. Jefferson's words liberated the minds of people all over the world, and they began to ask themselves, "Why not?" and, later, "Why not me?"

Note these major changes in government practice guided into place by Jefferson and his associates. 1) In England, a person arrested for a crime was guilty until he could prove himself innocent. In the U.S., one is innocent until proven guilty. 2) In most of Europe, land belonged to the king, and those who lived on it were judged to be his "vassals." In the U.S., property ownership was pioneered and a family could put a fence around their farm and call it "mine." 3) In England, there were schools and universities for those born into privileged families. In the U.S., after Jefferson's creation of the University of Virginia model, public schools served everyone. Thus was the impact of Jefferson's words that "all men are created equal."

When you watched the fireworks this Fourth of July, with "The Star-Spangled Banner" playing in the background and rockets exploding into the night, I hope you thought of the farmer from Virginia with the quill pen that was mightier than a sword. Then I hope you thanked God for the many blessings he brought to us with his inspired words.