The French Catholic poet, dramatist, and diplomat Paul Claudel once wrote that sometimes we need to look at our watches and ask, “What time is it?” He did not mean this literally. He meant something like “reading the signs of the time.” Certain times demand to be read and read well. Ours is one of those times.
To be sure, reading what time it is really is difficult and demanding. It requires sound criteria of analysis and evaluation and an adequate factual basis on which to deploy them. Most of us are partial on both these scores (present company included). In such circumstances, we need help. It is my belief that the Declaration of Independence still provides invaluable guidance in this regard; indeed, I think it is especially helpful in today’s circumstances.
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