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During the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade ruling, Kamala Harris gave a speech in Tallahassee where she openly expressed her support for the ruling, recently overturned by the Supreme Court. In the middle of her speech, she chose to quote the U.S. Declaration of Independence. However, after the end of the quote, some pointed out that the vice-president decided to omit one word: life.
The Declaration of Independence was published on July 4, 1776 and the first draft was written by a then-young lawyer named Thomas Jefferson. The final touches were made by Jefferson himself, who added John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman and Robert Livingston.
That document went down in history for the words it contains, which have guided America throughout history. “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,” the authors wrote.
More than 200 years later, one would think that today’s leaders would be mindful of this paragraph. Well, maybe not so much. Although Kamala Harris did manage to quote Jefferson’s words, she decided to tweak them a bit.
“We collectively believe and know, America is a promise … It is a promise of freedom and liberty. Not just some, but for all. A promise we made in the Declaration of Independence, that we are each endowed with the right to liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Be clear, these rights were not bestowed upon us, they belong to us as Americans,” Harris said.
Ted Cruz responded to Kamala Harris
Notably, the words she omitted were not random, but previously selected, either by her or by her team. “Somehow she forgot that all men are created equal” Senator Ted Cruz said on an episode of his podcast.
According to the Texas senator, the words written in the Declaration of Independence “May have been the most glorious words ever penned by men, outside of the Bible. It was a bold vision for the future of the natural rights of mankind,” while the VP’s speech “embodies both the ignorance of the modern Democratic Party, but also the utter contempt for our rights.”
Joaquín Núñez es licenciado en comunicación periodística por la Universidad Católica Argentina. Se especializa en el escenario internacional y en la política nacional norteamericana. Confeso hincha de Racing Club de Avellaneda. Contacto: [email protected] // Joaquín Núñez has a degree in journalistic communication from the Universidad Católica Argentina. He specializes in the international scene and national American politics. Confessed fan of Racing Club of Avellaneda. Contact: [email protected]