“Upon this act, sincerely believed to be an act of justice, warranted by the Constitution, I invoke the considerate judgment of mankind and the gracious favor of Almighty God. I also proclaim Sunday, January 17, 1988, as National Sanctity of Human Life Day. I call upon the citizens of this blessed land to gather on that day in their homes and places of worship to give thanks for the gift of life they enjoy and to reaffirm their commitment to the dignity of every human being and the sanctity of every human life.” — President Ronald Reagan
Classical Conversations has dedicated itself to protecting and promoting education independence nationwide. We believe the purpose of education is to know God and to make Him known; therefore, education, like religion, is a sacred pursuit outside the jurisdiction of the state. Practically manifested, this belief, grounded in the American promise of “liberty for all,” requires us to protect education from government infiltration and uphold the duty of parents to own and direct their children’s education.
Consider the timeless words penned by Thomas Jefferson in his declaration: “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.” Two hundred and forty-nine years later, we recite these familiar words frequently and parrot them around patriotically every July. But do we grasp their significance? First, Jefferson claims that all natural rights are given to man by their Creator. So, the logic follows: no God, no rights. Second, the list of natural rights given by Jefferson (life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness) is in a strategically hierarchical order. He understood that it is impossible to pursue happiness without liberty, and one cannot have liberty without life. Thus, all rights stem from the sanctity of life, and any society that wishes to be free must first acknowledge this truth.
The Proclamation
So, as we continue to fight to uphold civil liberty and education independence, we must always return to the reality that makes liberty possible—the sanctity of life. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the 17th of January to be the National Sanctity of Human Life Day. Since then, this celebration has been informally expanded to encompass the entire month. Reagan proclaimed,
“America has given a great gift to the world, a gift that drew upon the accumulated wisdom derived from centuries of experiments in self-government, a gift that has irrevocably changed humanity’s future. Our gift is twofold: the declaration, as a cardinal principle of all just law, of the God-given, unalienable rights possessed by every human being; and the example of our determination to secure those rights and to defend them against every challenge through the generations. Our declaration and defense of our rights have made us and kept us free and have sent a tide of hope and inspiration around the globe. One of those unalienable rights, as the Declaration of Independence affirms so eloquently, is the right to life.”
These beautiful words mirror Jefferson’s declaration and remind us that a belief in the sanctity of life is woven into the fabric of our nation. Sadly, many Americans reject pro-life convictions and are actively working to divorce life from liberty. It is easy to be discouraged by blatant attacks on the sanctity of life. Abortion, assisted suicide, and plummeting birth rates are all symptoms of a culture that has forgotten Jefferson’s words. However, do not be discouraged! Instead, renew your fight to protect education independence by honoring President Reagan’s words, “Give thanks for the gift of life we enjoy and reaffirm our commitment to the dignity of every human being and the sanctity of every human life.”
To learn more about how you can promote and protect education independence in your state, join the Choose Education Independence Network!
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