Letters to the Editor

Posted on 12 July 2012 by LeslieM

Happy Birthday to Our Constitutional Republic

Dear Editor:

[On July 4 ] we come together as Americans to celebrate the day on which we declared our independence from Great Britain. Fifty-six rebels came together 236 years ago in the heat of a Philadelphia summer to write a declaration the likes of which had never occurred in recorded history.

As lawyers, merchants, farmers and land owners, they had plenty to lose. But as revolutionaries, fighting against an imperial, despotic ruler, they had everything to gain. Their goal was to establish a new form of government, which derived its power from the individual and not from the monarch. Our Founders shared a unified vision for our nation. They understood this unity of the many was necessary to uphold the sovereignty of the individual, and the fundamental rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Then, they took to the battlefield to secure this liberty. And since the founding of our nation, we have taken to the battlefield on numerous occasions to defend our freedoms and our way of life. We remember the men who laid down their lives at Lexington and Concord, Bunker Hill, Valley Forge and Yorktown to secure our freedom, and all service members who paid the ultimate sacrifice in all battles throughout our nation’s history to preserve our cherished freedoms.

Founding Father John Adams wrote his wife, Abigail, regarding the signing of the Declaration of Independence “I believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival … It ought to be celebrated by pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other…”

From sea to shining sea, we light up the skies with fireworks in a celebration of the longest enduring Constitutional Republic, and in remembrance of the men who mutually pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor to create the United States of America.

U.S. Rep. Allen West, District 22

 

RE: Collection bins

Dear Editor:

A charity should not advocate their cause to the detriment of another charity. Who is ultimately damaged by the dispute? Children.

Our Shoe Bin initiative is one of many fundraising projects which allow us to make our donations and contributions. Not only does it help children financially, it enhances awareness about recycling and encourages citizens to “think green.”

For the record, permission was requested and given for every shoe bin placed public and private. Accusations of favoritism because one of our members sits on the city commission is without basis and denigrates the hard work, dedication and service of all Kiwanians.

With all due respect for what the Salvation Army represents and accomplishes, Kiwanis funds stay within this community, the city of Deerfield Beach.

Before passing judgment and denigrating our local Kiwanis and its members, I invite you [the writer of the first Letter to the Editor, 7-5-Observer] and any other interested person to attend one of our weekly meetings and find out what service to one’s community truly means.

Last year alone, we donated over $42,000 in scholarships, dictionaries to all third-grade students, Horses and the Handicapped, SOS Children’s Village, NE Focal Point, the BSO PAL program, Deerfield Beach Historical Society and many more.

Not one penny of our funds raised, whether through the Shoe Bin program, Golf Tournament, Bus Bench Advertisings, Christmas Tree Sales goes to administration.

We meet every Thursday at noon at the Deerfield Beach Country Club.

Henry Gould

Kiwanis Club of Deerfield Beach

Past President 2010-2011

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