Have Americans Lived up to the Country’s Founding Documents?

 
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Have Americans Lived up to the Country’s Founding Documents?
Two major documents on which the United States of America were founded are the
United States Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration of
Independence was adopted on January 4, 1776 by representatives from the thirteen colonies and
the Constitution was drafted on the basis of the Declaration. This document represents the
nation’s birth because it granted freedom to the United States from Britain. Additionally, it
meant national rights for all citizens of the country. Fifty-six delegates drafted the Declaration,
written on a parchment, and signed it into law. This document is currently on display at the
Washington DC National Archives Museum. However, the signatures on the Declaration of
Independence are now faded and difficult to read. This is a reflection of how the document has
gradually lost relevance in American society today. The overall perception in America today is
that the original vision of the Declaration has been lost, judging by current political, social, and
economic situations in the country. This shows that America has failed to live up to
Constitution’s ideals and precepts.
According to Rhode Island’s, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, “it takes work and a strong
will to resist the easy convenience of abandoning our founding principles in order to live up to
the ideals of our Constitution.” For instance, it has become the norm for the Supreme Court to
ignore long-standing precedents. Over the last few years, laws have been remade and the
Constitution has been amended in favor of political conservatism. Examples of which include the
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Ledbetter decision in which a victim of discrimination was unjustly time barred, or Roe v. Wade
restriction for abortion, which was decided although it disregarded a woman’s health and safety
(Whitehouse). Such examples show the failure of the Supreme Court to live up to the original
vision of the Constitution, which stands for true congressional intent and judicial conservatism.
The Declaration of Independence continues to be a binding document today.
Additionally, it is an integral part of American life, because it is a guide to how the government
should handle various matters. However, in several areas, it seems that the Declaration of
Independence has been taken out of context, particularly regarding United States foreign policy.
Many countries of the world are ruled by tyrannical leaders, and these countries often experience
humanitarian and political issues. This has resulted in our nation disregarding domestic
challenges facing the American people, as it has gotten involved in other countries’ problems,
which they experience because of their dictatorial leadership. For example, the Iraq experience
has resulted in the loss of more than 3,000 American lives, simply for the sake of attempting to
sort out problems in Iraq. Innocent American lives being lost had nothing to do with the core
values of the Declaration of Independence, which are “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”
(The Avalon Project).
In conclusion, it can be argued that America has not lived up to the founding documents’
visions. For example, the Roe v. Wade case is evidence of how far America have retrogressed
regarding the issue of protecting the value of life, as advocated in the Declaration of
Independence. Another example would be the rise in crime rates, which reflects the lack of
commitment to protecting lives. In today’s world, the pursuit of happiness has changed into the
pursuit of money in America, and liberty is often decided by a person’s economic and social
status. Americans should remember the valiant men and women who lost their lives for the sake
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of freedom in this country and make a better effort at living up to the visions of the country’s
founding documents. 
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Works Cited
The Avalon Project. Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776. Yale Law School. 2008. Web.
14 March, 2011. 
Whitehouse, Sheldon. Living Up To Our Constitution. 23 Nov. 2009. Web. 14 March, 2011.