JULY 2020
RIVERTON REVIEW Official Newsletter of the Riverton, Utah City Government
MAYOR’S MESSAGE
Independence Day: The Great American Experiment By Mayor Trent Staggs 244 years ago, the great American experiment of a republican form of government began with 56 patriots. They mutually pledged their lives, fortunes and sacred honor to stand firm in declaring independence from a powerful king and country more than 3,000 miles away. The revolutionary ideals 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…” expressed on that fateful day would have extraordinary effects on future generations. Every July as I ponder the wisdom and sacrifices of our founders, I find myself in a humbled state. It is difficult to imagine what life would be like
RIVERTON REVIEW
today had the original 13 colonies people need to continue to create a not unified and stood against tyran- world in which the American dream ny. The righteous design of self-gov- continues to be obtainable. ernment was blessed with a victory in the Revolutionary War, followed Benjamin Franklin once stated, “The by the miracle of unifying all the U.S. Constitution doesn’t guarantee states with a written Constitution that happiness, only the pursuit of it. You guarantees to all citizens those in- have to catch up with it yourself.” alienable rights. The 4th of July George Washis a celebration ington, who had of our Indepenevery opportudence but also nity to become the celebration “Our success as a king of the new of the American nation comes not in world, resigned dream. I recogguaranteeing equality in his commission nize our nation outcome, only equality at the conclusion has struggled in opportunity. And that of the war and to ensure equal returned to civilprotection of American dream is, more ian life. And, after those inalienable than ever, attainable by having been duly rights, resulting everyone and anyone elected as our in a civil war and willing to work towards first President, amendments to that pursuit.” chose to step our Constitution. down from that We have come office in 1797, a long way in therefore setthe realization ting an importof the ideal that ant precedent and proving that this every individual is born with the new nation would never be governed same God-given rights to life, liberby a single person, but rather keep ty and the pursuit of happiness. Our the power in We the People. We the success as a nation comes not in
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guaranteeing equality in outcome, only equality in opportunity. And that American dream is attainable by everyone and anyone willing to work towards that pursuit and catch up with it. On this day I pray we can all have gratitude for the rights and freedoms we have in this nation, recognizing that there are still many in the world who don’t have the liberties we hold dear. Or, as John F. Kennedy said in his inaugural address “…the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around the globe – the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state but from the hand of God. We dare not forget today that we are the heirs of that first revolution.” Let us stand together to continue the progress made by those who came before us, live a life worthy of their sacrifice, and promote freedom and equality of opportunity to everyone. America the beautiful is full of possibility and together we can create a better world for our children and future generations. Happy Independence Day!
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