For a long time, I've made a practice of posting Langston Hughes' "Let America Be America Again" on July 4.

These words from the poem take on a new salience this year:

I am the immigrant clutching the hope I seek—
And finding only the same old stupid plan
Of dog eat dog, of mighty crush the weak.

I am the young man, full of strength and hope,
Tangled in that ancient endless chain
Of profit, power, gain, of grab the land!
…
Of owning everything for one’s own greed!

Let America Be America Again

Let America Be America Again - Let America be America again.

Poets.org (poets.org)

But this year, I think it's more important to highlight some other words from our written history.

First, the preamble to the U.S. Constitution, the mission statement of our federal government, the brief introduction that tells us what it's FOR:

We the People of the United States — in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity — do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

The Constitution of the United States

Español We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

National Archives (www.archives.gov)

I've changed the punctuation very slightly to emphasize its two key parts:

We the People of the United States … ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Why?

In Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, etc.

WE ordain and establish this Constitution. We give it authority.

And we can withdraw that authority, and ordain and establish whatever else we please in order to accomplish the goals we set out for it. Especially if it's not doing the job.

Second, the Declaration of Independence. We all know the famous part: "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."

Funny that the most often quoted part stops just short of the spiciest:

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. …

Declaration of Independence: A Transcription

Note: The following text is a transcription of the Stone Engraving of the parchment Declaration of Independence (the document on display in the Rotunda at the National Archives Museum.) The spelling and punctuation reflects the original.

National Archives (www.archives.gov)

… [and] when a long train of abuses and usurpations … 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.

Third, the far lesser-known Universal Declaration of Human Rights, drafted under America’s leadership and guidance in the aftermath of World War II, laying out in its preamble the reasons why it was needed:

Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind …

Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law …

Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women …

And fourth, the first, second and last articles of the UDHR, the foundation and the pediment:

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.

Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.

Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.

On this beclouded Independence Day, bear in mind:

We are born equal in rights and dignity.
We have government because we consent to its existence.
Its job is to safeguard our rights and improve our lives.
If it doesn't, then we can and must create other systems that will.

AMERICA WILL BE.