Our most high-profile critics sound like the man at my University of Maryland talk, unwilling to confront any contradiction between a nation whose declaration of independence promises "complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of race, religion and sex" and an occupation that has held millions of Palestinians as non-citizens for more than forty years.
This week, as we mark two hundred and forty years since our nation's declaration of sovereignty, daily news headlines highlight grim stories of Muslim communities facing growing hostility and suspicion.
While the twentieth century was undeniably an American century with strong leadership, adherence to the principles of freedom and democracy our Founders' enshrined in our nation's Declaration of Independence and Constitution, and a continued reliance on Divine Providence the twenty-first century will be one of American greatness as well.
When the words of our Nation's Declaration of Independence were signed by our forefathers, "we hold these truths to be self evident that all men are created equal," their concept of equality did not yet include African-Americans or women.
Accordingly, I'm inviting "We The People" to support this non-partisan and non-ideological demand for the return of all our basic freedoms - a demand made in the spirit of our nation's Declaration of Independence that both recalls and insists that the only justification for our government is to protect our Life, our Liberty and our Pursuit of Happiness.
After Tuesday's bombings, Lebanese authorities denounced attempts to tear their nation apart, declarations that have become standard fare after periodic bombings and attacks linked to Syria.
Carson reminded delegates that America is a Christian nation with a Declaration of Independence that refers to inalienable rights given by "our Creator", currency that says "In God we trust" and a pledge of allegiance that hails "one nation under God".
It was an entire nation's primal declaration, in the face of Biblical adversity, to survive, to persevere.
Ironically, the United States rejected a more generous autonomy plan for Kosovo and instead pushed for UN recognition of that nation's unilateral declaration of independence, even though Kosovo was legally part of Serbia and Western Sahara is legally a country under foreign military occupation.
