Self-evident truths, at times, must be declared anew:
the One who made us equal grants us certain rights
too. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, each
left alone to pursue her own happiness! And yet the
happiness which endures is wholly singular; as we do
lack it, so do we suffer, each one’s own desires’ prisoner.
I tremble before that vulgar error, which takes equal
rights to mean no human can be better. To imply that
all choices are the same: none fit to praise, none worthy
of blame. To believe there exists no one whose horizon
is farther, of perception still keener and counsel wiser.
Which jadedly frowns before a little boy’s wonder at
the heavens illumined amidst mighty parans of thunder.
Such dullards make petty potentates; may VahiGurū jī
bless these United States.
_____
Nihal Singh