July 4, 2016 marks the 240th anniversary of America’s Declaration of Independence from England, but the holiday has come to symbolize and celebrate all the freedoms we enjoy.
We all have a responsibility to consider these freedoms and to do what we can to preserve them.
The right to bear arms hogs most of the attention among freedoms these days, maybe because we fail to appreciate our many other freedoms.
In the newspaper business, we rely on the freedom of the press. While the freedom of the press and threats to the freedom of the press receive relatively little attention, it is constantly under attack, starting at the very top.
Neither of our presidential candidates seem to appreciate or respect the freedom of the press – probably because they view the press as a threat to their campaigns. Those pesky fact-checkers can really cramp your style on the campaign trail.
One wants to change the law to make it easier to sue media outlets. The other has shown a complete disregard for the public records laws that enable the press to do its job.
Here in Maine, we work with organizations like the Maine Press Association to preserve and strengthen the freedom of the press.
We feel strongly about the freedom of the press. What freedoms are important to you? We encourage you to write us about those freedoms, why you value them, and what you do to preserve them – at the ballot box or elsewhere.
We also encourage everyone to think about the rights they enjoy during their Fourth of July barbecues, parades, and fireworks.
America is at a strange place in its history right now – maybe a turning point – and it is crucial that we value and stand up for our freedoms.
