Forum: Our courageous letter to the king
July 3, 2012 9:00PM
Updated: August 5, 2012 6:45AM
We’re upon the most significant day of the year, the Fourth of July, the day our Founding Fathers wrote what is inarguably the finest American document ever written by those who fostered the revolution.
Every American should take time to read the Declaration of Independence (it only takes a few minutes) and realize what the signers risked. Had we lost the revolution, the signers would surely have been shackled and shipped to England for trial and eventual execution as traitors.
Read the names at the bottom. Many lived out their lives in debt. Some died penniless and others are unrecognized and forgotten. Who remembers Francis Lewis, William Ellery, John Hart and other little-known statesmen?
Thomas Jefferson was selected to write the letter to King George III with suggestions from Benjamin Franklin, John Adams and other signers. The body of the declaration lists the reasons for our duty to revolt and remove the colonies from the tyranny of King George.
Please read this amazing compact, enjoy the holiday and remember the 56 brave patriots who made it possible.
Timothy D. O’Reilly
Chicago
Oak Forest’s rush to video gambling
The Oak Forest City Council has approved video gambling in the city, supposedly to help our restaurants and bars compete with those in nearby towns. Did the public have much input into this decision? Apparently not.
I firmly believe that the moral fiber of a city is important. The city used to have a 4 a.m. closing time for bars and lingerie shows in some of them. The late closing time caused problems, and the lingerie shows were discontinued because of community opposition.
The council’s vote to allow video gambling machines will lead to more people becoming addicted to gambling. Better towns are prohibiting these machines, opting out as the state law allows. I applaud those communities for taking such a stand.
We make decisions all the time based on what might happen. I do not feel that the mayor or the aldermen did their due diligence or allowed enough time to get the community’s reaction before they voted on this issue.
Ruth Ensing
Oak Forest
Enjoy a meatless Fourth
What possible reason could anyone have to barbecue soy dogs and veggie burgers on the Fourth of July instead of animal body parts?
How about not worrying about nasty E. coli and salmonella bugs if temperature is too low or deadly carcinogens if temperature is too high. Focusing on traffic and fireworks safety rather than food safety. Giving your body a holiday from saturated fat, cholesterol and hormones. Sharing a holiday with your strange but lovable veggie friends.
Celebrate a day of independence from the meat industry.
David Fugiel
Tinley Park
