Brooke Meyer: A ‘day of deliverance’

Regarding the June 27 news article “U.S. Supreme Court extends gay marriage nationwide”: In his dissent on Obergefell v. Hodges, Chief Justice John Roberts asked “Who do we think we are?”

We are Americans, with a grand history of breaking with the dogmas of the past, as “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. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”

Our audacity got rid of monarchy, divine right, caste, birthright and dictators in one sentence. It was done imperfectly and our Civil War was the cost for our failure to include “all men.”

Later, we fixed another flaw and women became equal to “all men,” at least in the voting booth.

And, finally, interracial marriage was made “legal.”

Saturday, our young nation with the oldest Constitution will celebrate our national birthday. John Adams called it our “day of deliverance.”

And for Americans it is, deliverance from the chains and inequity of the past. As the president said, “we made our Union a little more perfect.” We’re Americans.

This story was originally published July 3, 2015 at 2:00 PM with the headline "Brooke Meyer: A ‘day of deliverance’."