Reflections on this 4th Day of July, 2021
Hello Fellow Freedom Advocate!
Reflections on this 4th Day of July, 2021
When the Revolutionary War began in April of 1775, it was looking dismal to the small band of “radical” colonists seeking independence from Great Britain. And then came along a man by the name of Thomas Paine. In the early months of 1776 he wrote a pamphlet entitled Common Sense. It caused a massive ripple effect.
To quote a portion of Common Sense, “Europe, and not England, is the parent country of America. This new world hath been the asylum for the persecuted lovers of civil and religious liberty from every part of Europe. Hither they have fled, not from the tender embraces of the mother, but from the cruelty of the monster; and it is so far true of England, that the same tyranny which drove the first emigrants from home, pursues their descendants still.”
It was only months after this pamphlet was released that a five-man committee, including Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin, were tasked with drafting a formal statement of the colonies’ intentions. One month later, after some wild and heated debates, Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; that to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”
John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail that this day “will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival” and that the celebration should include “Pomp and Parade . . . Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other.”
The words that these men chose: illuminations, happiness, life, liberty, inalienable rights, cruelty, monster, tyranny . . . they are as relevant today as they were in 1776.
In 1776 the US population was a mere 2.5 million, compared to the 331,449,281 reported in the 2020 US census. Today the state of Maine alone has nearly 1.4 million persons dwelling within its boundaries. MSU membership has surpassed 1,000 and continues to climb each week. We in MSU are not so different from the Thomas Paines or Thomas Jeffersons of 1776. The masses outnumber us. Some of us are labeled radicals. We stand for freedom from oppression. We still believe in “our inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” And we will never give up hope for humanity.
The Advocacy Group Is Gaining Momentum
From Sheryl Winchester, head of the Advocacy Committee:
After a productive Zoom meeting, letters are being written so that we are prepared for when schools, colleges, and businesses say they will be requiring masks in the fall. Another template has been created from an email written to a superintendent, which was inspiring to the group. All of these letters will be compiled in a folder for easy access.
The next Zoom meeting will be this coming Tuesday morning. Please check in on the Advocacy Signal thread for details and updates!
A word from a shining example in our MSU community, Crystal Robinson:
Please consider getting involved in your public schools, whether you have children in school or not. If you are short on time, read the minutes of the school board meetings online and skim through the newsletters. If you would speak at even one or two school board meetings a year the impact would be huge.
Almost no one attends our school board meetings anymore and even fewer people sit on the board. There were two empty slots on the ballot here in Hope. I decided to run at 2pm on the afternoon of voting day and was voted in with only six votes.
While it is understandable and even laudable to choose to homeschool your children, there are families who don't have that option. If you have the time and the inclination to run for your local school board, do so. They need you. Here are a few things for your consideration. (Read more...)
Some Illuminating Data
Lisbon Court Rules Only 0.9% of ‘Verified Cases’ Died of COVID, Numbering 152, Not 17,000 Claimed.
According to the ruling in this Italian court, the number of verified COVID-19 deaths from January 2020 to April 2021 is only 152, not the approximately 17,000 as previously claimed by government ministries.
“If these figures are of the same order of magnitude for other countries as well, and there is no reason to assume otherwise, then the plague is a deception of unprecedented proportions, and crimes committed against humanity on a huge scale have been committed here.”
Volunteers Needed
Committee Leaders for:
Emotional & Spiritual Support
Street Activism
Fundraising & Events
Note: Co-Leaders for committees are more than welcome.
Our Legislative Committee is also gaining momentum, and this summer is a great time for us to take action in preparation for the election cycle of 2022. Please see our prior two newsletters for information, join the Legislative Signal thread for ways to get involved! We will also have more information to share on this in next week’s newsletter. Big thanks in the meantime to Gina LeDuc and Premal Catherine for your leadership and service in this area.
Groups
At the time of this newsletter’s release, two of our MSU members took it upon themselves to journey to the ‘Great Northern Beyond’ and spread the good word in the counties that have yet to start a meeting.
These counties are . . .
Piscataquis
Somerset
Sagadahoc
Kennebec
Lincoln
Washington
Oxford
Penobscot
We have a starter packet and support available for anyone who wants to start hosting a meeting anywhere in the state. Please contact info@mainestandsup.org.
The Maine Freedom Cruise
Get your tickets here
Please note tickets are limited to 150 so we would advise not waiting to purchase until the day of.
Join the MSU family on the Casablanca for a 70’s and 80’s dance party cruise!
Thursday, July 15, 2021
Check-in 5:00 - 5:45 p.m.
Boat departs at 6:00 p.m., sharp!
18 Custom House Wharf, Portland, ME (next to the Porthole)
Dress in your 70’s/80’s finest and bring a picnic! Cash bar available on board.
Tickets: $50 / Ages 16 and up / All proceeds go to MSU.
We are looking for 4 volunteers to check tickets at the door.
Please email info@mainestandsup.org with the subject CRUISE HELPER.
