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September 16, 2004
Declaration of Independence
Thomas Jefferson,1776
Bill of Rights
George Mason, James Madison, U.S. Congress
1789
Two documents that immigrants have read more often than the proud native US population are the Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights. It takes about 20 minutes to read through both, 30 or so if you want to go for deep understanding. And they're quite good reading, no matter what you recall from school!
Some cute quotes, first from the DoI:
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.
Not really something either of our ruling parties want you considering, eh?
And then, the most controversial quote from the BoR:
Article IV: A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
Huh, a "well regulated Militia" doesn't really sound like Billy-Bob and his AK-47 totin' buddies, now does it? Funny thing about partial quotes; they're usually the equivalent of lies.
Anyway, you should read these at least once. If you're technically minded enough to have a PDA, they make wonderful little text files to tote around with you...
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