Why am I here? It’s one of the great questions asked by most of us at one time or another in our lives. It’s also a question nations seek to answer: Why are we here? For us, one answer is summarized in our 1776 Declaration of Independence, the principal author being Thomas Jefferson.

“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.”

These stirring words inspired many here and around the world. They are often held up as an example of what it means to be a democratic nation — espoused by many, sometimes f

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