This is the Reason interview with Nicholaspe. My guest today is Neil Gorsuch,

Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court and co-author with Janie Nitsy of the new

children's book, Heroes of 1776, the story of the Declaration of Independence. Justice Gorsuch,

thanks for talking to reason. It's delighted to be here. Thank you.

Let's start with Heroes of 1776, which is time for the upcoming 250th anniversary of the

signing of the Declaration of Independence. The book is about ordinary men, women, and children

doing something totally extraordinary, which is overthrowing a repressive and distant government in the name of freedom

and liberty. What's the main lesson that you think America needs to be thinking about as we

celebrate our 250th birthday? Well, I know we're going to have a lot of fireworks, and there are

going to be some good barbecues and parades.

But I hope maybe we take a moment, too, to reflect on the gift we've been given and the

challenge we face. And what I mean by that is the Declaration of Independence had three

great ideas in it, that all of us are equal, that each of us has inalienable rights given to us

by God, not government, and that we have the right to rule ourselves. Our nation is not founded on a

religion. It's not based on a common culture even or heritage. It's based on those ideas. We're a creedal nation. And I hope

we'd take a moment to reflect on that and to recommit ourselves to that. One more thing.

One more thing. The courage it takes to defend those ideas. They were not inevitable.

And the stories of the men, women, and children in the book, I hope will inspire children

to realize the courage it takes to carry those ideas forward in their own time.

Talk a little bit about that lack of inevitability because the way, you know, American

history gets done especially to kids, it's like, well, you know, this happened, then this

happened. Yes. And of course, here we are. You know, here we are. How do you focus on the idea that

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