Our reflection this month comes from long time partner, board member and friend of
Cornerstone, Judge Michael Warren:
Citizenship: Brings to life our country’s founding principles
In 1776, our Founding Fathers threw off the yoke of British oppression because of "a long train of abuses and
usurpations . . . .” When doing so, they explained our founding First Principles in the Declaration of Independence:
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. 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 to 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.
These founding First Principles were revolutionary in 1776 and they remain revolutionary today.
Those First Principles are:
 The Rule of Law
 Unalienable rights
 The Social Compact
 Equality
 Limited Government
 The right to alter or abolish an oppressive government (Revolution)
The Rule of Law means that everyone - from the most wealthy to the poorest; the judge and the
defendant; the President and the common citizen, must all obey the law.
Unalienable Rights means that our rights come from our Creator and Nature and Nature’s Law, not
governments. They are born in us as part of our human nature.
The Social Compact means that the people have given up some of those natural rights to obtain security
from the government; and that the government is accountable to the people in a republican form of
government.
Equality means that all people are equal under the law, regardless of race, gender, economic status,
creed, and ethnic group.
Limited Government means because the purpose of the government is protect our unalienable rights,
the power of the government is limited to protecting those rights.
Revolution means that if the government ever engages in a long train of abuses and usurpations of our
rights, we have the right to reform (through elections and amendments) or abolish the government.
These First Principles are embedded in our Constitution. Participating in our republic by voting, engaging
in the political process, and defending our rights is essential to preserving our freedom. If we don’t, no
one will. Our freedom is in your hands!
For more on our First Principles, check out AmericasSurvivalGuide.com and PatriotWeek.org.