Declaration of Independence inspires us to help others

On the Fourth of July, we celebrate more than our country’s birthday, but also a belief that all people deserve basic human rights. That is what our Declaration of Independence of 1776 says: “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.”

We must put these words to practice, not just for a select few but for everyone. These principles also extend beyond our borders.

I recently spoke to a human rights class at my alma mater, Mount St. Joseph University in Ohio. There we put the words in the Declaration into action by advocating for the right of every child to get food to survive.

Millions of children each day across the globe are threatened with starvation. Infants perish in war-torn Yemen because they lack access to food and become severely malnourished. In drought-ravaged Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia, children are dying as food is out of reach for millions because of drought. This crisis could even get worse if the drought persists, further limiting food production.

There are dozens of countries where severe hunger is putting children’s lives at risk.

The students in the human rights class wrote letters to Congress asking them to pass the Global Malnutrition Prevention and Treatment Act. Dr. Jennifer Morris and Bread for the World helped coordinate the distribution of the letters to Congress. Passing this legislation would save the lives of these malnourished children overseas by boosting our response to the crisis. The House has passed the bill and we are waiting for the Senate to do its part.

We believe every one of these children has the right to food that will allow them to pursue life, liberty and happiness.

Everyone could write a letter to Congress encouraging them to expand school meals at home and overseas.

The principles of the Declaration of Independence inspire us to help others in need, and that takes on even more urgency during hard times. What makes the Declaration and America powerful is when citizens put words in action, and stand up for human rights.

William Lambers is an author who partnered with the UN World Food Program on the book Ending World Hunger. His writings have been published by the New York Times, Newsweek, Chicago Sun Times, Cleveland Plain Dealer and many other news outlets.