Duty

When I was young I would often cry during the National Anthem because I found it so moving.

I grew up Irish in Boston so I figured I'd marry a cop or a soldier; for the honor, not the uniform.

So it's really no surprise that I married an army guy.

And less of a surprise that he's as patriotic and passionate as I am.

But since he's more emotional than I am, the tears these days are mostly his.

My 9yo son just did a report on John Hancock.  He had to bring props in for his oral report so he brought a scroll of the Declaration of Independence.

Looking at it I said, "We the People..." and then stopped, realizing that that was the Constitution, not the Declaration of Independence.

My husband and I looked at each other for a moment, puzzled and then I pulled it... "When in the course of human events..."

He pulled it up on the iPad and began to read...

"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, 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, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."

At this point I could tell, even from across the room that the tears had started.  My husband had pledged to give his life 20 years ago for these words and he was no less passionate now.

So it was no surprise to me when my 7yo daughter asked her 6'4" father, "Daddy, are you crying?"

He nodded and continued...

"Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security."

He paused for breath, the tears streaming faster now when a small voice broke thru - the voice of my 6 year old daughter, "Ha, you said duty."

We all broke into hysterical laughter - my husband almost hiccupping between the laughter and the tears - when my 7yo asked, "Why is Daddy crying?"

I couldn't help it, I had to answer, "Because he takes his duty very seriously."

Cue the hysterics

We never did get to the rest of the document.

 

 

Comments

[the life you choose]

We have the constitution center here in Philly and I was surprised how emotional I got when we went there. It is a terrific country we live in. Thanks to your husband for defending it.

[katzmeow]

What an emotional moment. Almost!

[DaddyRunsALot]

I read the title & thought "this is going to be a touching piece, and all I'm going to be able to think about, as I read it, is duty."

What I find most interesting is that, in the 18th century, a little backwoods collection of outcasts ended up creating some of the greatest thinkers of the age (if not all time).

This was a truly touching piece - even if I was giggling throughout.