Fourth of July Message from Norman

Two hundred thirty two years ago, 55 men from 13 Colonies signed our "Declaration of Independence" and so began our United States of America. I consider the 4th of July to be the most important American holiday because it celebrates the principles upon which our nation was founded.

The Declaration begins with the explanation that "When in the Course of human Events...", it becomes necessary for people to separate themselves from despots and declare their independence and freedom, it is necessary to set forth the reasons why they are compelled to take such action. "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." Those immortal words begin the second paragraph of the Declaration. Equality, Unalienable Rights such as Life , Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness thus became our nation's raison d'etre.

The signers set forth, in 27 separate paragraphs, a long list of grievances against the King of England. Included in the indictment are: obstruction of the Administration of Justice, quartering of armed troops in the colonies without consent, imposing taxes without consent, exciting domestic insurrection and waging war against the colonies.

Reasoning that " in every stage of these Oppressions we have Petitioned for Redress" but to no avail the signers believed they had no choice. As they so eloquently stated: " We, therefore, the Representatives of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, in General Congress, Assembled, ... do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good people of these Colonies, solemnly Publish and Declare, that these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be, FREE AND INDEPENDENT STATES; that they are absolved from all Allegiances to the British Crown, and that all political Connection between them and the State of Great-Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as FREE AND INDEPENDENT STATES, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and do all other Acts and Things which INDEPENDENT STATES may of right do."

On July 4,1776, 232 years ago, the United States of America was born.

On September 17, 1787 our Constitution was approved by a Constitutional Congress made up of representatives of the 13 original colonies of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. Four years later, on December 15, 1791, our Bill of Rights –the first ten amendments –became part of the Constitution.

Today, as we approach our 232nd birthday, it is important for all Americans to reflect on our heritage and to appreciate our constitutional system. Although they have some serious flaws, these documents collectively set forth wonderful and fundamental principles and values that our nation needs to adhere to more consistently. My mentor, Charles Morgan, Jr., a superb civil rights lawyer from Alabama, and a great American said in a speech " the Constitutional System–we should try it sometime." Morgan's theme was that if we only adhered to the principles and values in our constitutional system, our nation would be much better. He believed that no matter what problem arose, these American landmarks provided the guidelines for resolving them as a nation. Morgan was correct.

For the past 39 years, I have read the Declaration of Independence, US Constitution, its Amendments with an emphasis on the Bill of Rights on July 4th, usually in public parks. Last year for the first time I and members of the Granny Peace Brigade read sections of these documents aloud with and to a group of 60 people. The people ranged in age from my 7 year old granddaughter, to former New York Assemblywoman Marie Runyon, age 92. It was a terrific and uplifting event. I, along with all who attended, loved the reading.

This 4th of July, I along with the Granny Peace Brigade, the Gray Panthers and other civic minded groups will again read aloud sections of these American treasures. The reading will be held in Central Park, Strawberry Fields, New York City ( West 72nd Street entrance), at noon. I invite you to join us in Central Park to share in this wonderful experience. The 4th of July, Central Park, people celebrating the principles central to free speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, equal protection under the law, due process of the law and other cornerstone American values–it will make you feel good. It is a message Americans need to absorb.

Happy 4th of July. Happy Independence.