This July 4
Let’s Change Course

This could be the 4^th of July that the American people understood that they have evolved beyond nationalism and must take a leading role in the new world of global interdependence and shared responsibility.

I’ve written 4^th of July letters all my life. It was a good time to remind fellow Americans what we needed to do to get the governing we thought we had "of the people, by the people, for the people." When I was in school we saluted the flag every morning and I said "with liberty and justice for all," knowing we had never had that but it was part of my American dream.

The Earth Charter is the basis for a new American dream as well as a world dream. This document is a "declaration of fundamental principles for building a just, sustainable and peaceful global society in the twenty-first century. It took many people, from many different countries with different beliefs and cultures many years to envision this dream. Thousands of groups, cities, towns, mayors and governors all over the world have endorsed the Earth Charter. Many in this country have endorsed it.

Unfortunately in our country we have lost our dream and our way. Corporations are now running this country with the help of those who managed to get elected in 2000.

We need to take it back; 2008 is too late. We need a grassroots uprising now, and Vermont could lead the way. What better time than when we celebrate our birth? It’s time for "of the people, by the people, for the people."

Marion Leonard

Rochester

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