Seeing the printed text of the Declaration of Independence in the newspaper these past few Fourths of July has pleased me. The long list of grievances against the British crown as stated in the Declaration makes good reading and is a great reminder of the clear and compelling case for our 1776 revolution against good ‘ole King George.

The most cursory reading of the Declaration of Independence can help us appreciate how the delegates in Philadelphia that day were so fearless and courageous by risking their property and lives; how fortunate we were to have had such leaders and be the exceptional beneficiaries that we Americans are today.

Sadly, however, the text of that sacred document was not printed in my July 4 newspaper this year. In addition to my own reading pleasure, its inclusion might have presented an opportunity for other people to look, revisit, and perhaps even to learn a thing or two about some of the circumstances surrounding a document still regarded in the world as iconic. Evidently this year on our national birthday, articles on crime, domestic troubles, politics, and all the rest had more currency to the good folks at the newspaper.

At a time when so many citizens are ignorant of the facts underlying the 1776 American Revolution, at a time when so many take little notice, or don’t seem to have a nodding acquaintance to our Bill of Rights, to our Constitution, or even basic civic principles, couldn’t the newspaper have found space and seized the opportunity to remind us of the brilliant content of the Declaration of Independence on our nation’s birthday?

Warren M. Poulin

Winslow

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