Using the word propoganda is hardly an insult. The word is usually used in a negative statement, but look it up. That's what the Constitution was - "Material distributed to win people over to a particular doctrine" or "The systematic widespread promotion of a particular doctrine or idea". I suppose you could call it a doctrine, but the way I see it, you
live your beliefs and
write or espouse propoganda.
The best part, is the beginning "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."Â
But then it goes on to say "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." Men. You, yourself, Eral, pointed out that women had no power - political or otherwise - I'd add 'unless wealthy'. Neither Blacks nor Native Americans (named Indian Savages) nor Immigrants are the white man's equal in that time frame. Tho's Jefferson, for example, had many slaves.
"That, to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the consent of the governed." Even then, who had political say. Dare I suggest the (wealthy) land-owners? And where, exactly, do they get our consent from these days?
Here's another really good one "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. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and, accordingly, all experience hath shown, 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." Yeah, baby. Â
It then goes on to list the many forms of oppression the King of England has wrought on the Colonies. Among them:
- He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing, with manly firmness, his invasions on the rights of the People.
- He has endeavoured to prevent the Population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws of Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
- He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our People, and eat out their substance.
- He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.
- He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation: [among many other things is]
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with Power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever. - He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
- He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
Anything sound familiar in there?Â
At the time of it's draft, I'm sure they meant well, and indeed believed strongly in what they wrote - their way of life was being seriously threatened, after all. But it was still a document by the wealthy, literate, god-fearing men, for the wealthy, literate god-fearing men. And it was propoganda.