American and Naga Independence

 

As I reflect on the 75^th year celebration of the Naga declaration of independence, I grieve over the decades' long conflict and its relative lack of success in establishing a free nation for the Nagas. Americans only had to fight for eight years to win our independence.

There were 56 state delegates who signed the
American Declaration of Independence. Each of the 13 states squabbled and argued with one another in an effort to gain the best benefits for each state, but ultimately, these 56 men recognized the truth of Benjamin Franklin’s words, “We must, indeed, all hang together, or most assuredly, we shall all hang separately.”

The last line of the American Declaration spelled out the serious nature of declaring independence: “And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, WE MUTUALLY PLEDGE TO EACH OTHER OUR LIVES, OUR FORTUNES, AND OUR SACRED HONOR.” That is to say, the signers knew that Great Britain would try to arrest them and publicly execute them for treason against the king. This was deadly serious.

None of those 56 American patriots dreamed of ever becoming rich and successful through war with Great Britain. I think most of the 56 signers died in poverty. With their own finances, they clothed, fed, and outfitted Gen. George Washington’s army. Why would they do so?

They risked so much because they longed for a country with freedoms and good governance that the colonial power could not given them. They invested their lives, fortunes, and their sacred honor to forge a new nation in which their children could live safely and securely.

May God grant the Nagas wisdom, perseverance, strength, and godly leaders to lead them in their struggle for self-determination.

Kuknalim