“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 them 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 and that whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it and to institute new government.”

Today, these words from our Declaration of Independence are more relevant than ever.

Recent events in Egypt serve as a reminder that freedom is irrepressible. People can be repressed for a time, but sooner or later, their God-given thirst for freedom will prevail. That’s how our country began, that’s how the Soviet Union collapsed upon itself, and that’s how every other repressive regime will eventually be overtaken by its people.

Some won’t want to be reminded of this, but this is what President George W. Bush and Vice President Cheney predicted when the murderous dictator Saddam Hussein was replaced with a free, democratic government in Iraq — that an elected democracy in the Middle East would set an example for others in that region to follow. Now we’re seeing a wave of popular demand for freedom and democracy in Tunisia, Egypt, Jordan, Yemen and Algeria. This is no coincidence.

The young government in Iraq is far from perfect, but how many Iraqis would want Saddam back? Events in Egypt still have to play out, but at least there is an opportunity for the people there to elect their own leaders and form a government of the people, by the people, for the people.

John Rowerdink

Pinehurst