What does the Declaration of Independence mean to you?

“The pursuit of Happiness…” One of the most iconic phrases, and the true definition of what it means to be an American, was almost never written. The pursuit of property was considered in lieu of the pursuit of Happiness as one of our three self-evident and unalienable Rights. As a member of the judiciary, interpreting documents is second nature to me. But there is something so pure and beautiful that our Nation was founded not only to support life and liberty, but to encourage that rugged individualistic adventurism that beats in every American heart.

I believe that without that pursuit, our lives and liberties would be just a little dimmer. Without the human quality of seeking, of moving forward (especially as Wisconsinites), of striving more each and every day to do better, to make ourselves and others happy, we lose that unique quality of being truly American. We all need to take time to just reflect on what we have accomplished so far, be grateful for our efforts to date, and smile deep to our souls as we plan how to continue to pursue Happiness each and every day.

The American Dream is our nation. It is a foreigner’s dream. A dream forged in scarcity and oppression. That dream is a prayer that somewhere a shining “City on a Hill” exists. A place where “We the People” are in charge. A place where their families are warmly welcomed. A place where their God-given rights are respected.

The United States is blessed like no other place in human history. The U.S. has welcomed more foreigners than any country ever. The U.S. has protected the world from the greatest evils in history. The United States continues to strive to expel those who treat foreigners poorly.

I thank God that I was born in such a place. There might not be a better blessing anyone has received. Simultaneously, I believe we can continue to be better. There is significant room to grow. We can harness technology, respect diverse cultures, and honor our Christian tradition. I believe that humble American hard work and self-sacrifice can make a better life for our children.

The United States was founded on the ideal of equality. The Declaration’s opening sentence cites the “separate and equal station” of the people of America and Great Britain. The next sets forth the “self-evident” truth that “all men are created equal,” which we now understand to mean all people.

It’s one thing to assert the equality of all human beings, and quite another to make that a reality. The Declaration’s principal author, like many of the Founders, was a slaveholder. It would take a bloody civil war to end slavery. Five years after the war, the Fifteenth Amendment prohibited race discrimination in voting, but that basic right – and with it, all other rights – was systematically denied to African Americans for most of the next century.

Today, a chasm remains. Race and gender disparities persist. The gap between rich and poor has widened. The American dream seems out of reach to many of our fellow citizens.

Should we despair that America has never fully lived up to the Declaration’s promise? I think not. We should instead understand the Declaration as a statement of principles to which each generation must rededicate itself. The fact that equal opportunity has never been our reality does not relieve us of the responsibility to keep pursuing this ideal. On the contrary, it should make us recommit to fulfilling the Declaration’s promise.

The Preamble is a clarion call to purposefully pursue the highest ideals. It provides a launchpad to the Constitution – the roadmap showing the rule-of-law route leads to the highest ideals. This is America’s promise.

While growing up as an African American during the 1950s and 1960s in Racine, I knew then the Preamble words rang hollow in too many neighborhoods, including working-poor neighborhoods like mine. After all, we then were a mere three generations beyond 14 consecutive generations of enslavement – well within the era the Preamble was first announced.

Despite the lingering adverse effects of race-based discrimination, reading the Preamble taught me that if given an equal opportunity to obtain the tools needed to chart a course, then I too could navigate the complexities of a hyper-competitive global marketplace and experience some of America’s promise. During the 1970s and 1980s, I was blessed to obtain the navigation tools needed (including a generous scholarship from S.C. Johnson), chart my course, and realize much of America’s promise.

Since childhood, I have known that the Preamble’s words still ring hollow in too many neighborhoods. America’s promise is still too distant for too many in too many neighborhoods across this great country. Therefore, I spent the past 40 years litigating civil rights cases nationwide, arguing that the Preamble and the Constitution’s words should guide us.

Although the Preamble’s launchpad was constructed 250 years ago, much work remains to ensure all have equal opportunities to realize America’s promise. Let’s get to work!