12 JUNE 29, 2017 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
EDITORIAL
A reminder of self-evident truths
As part of nationwide events
THE HOT TOPIC
STORY:
New outdoor beer garden at Long
Island City hotel is open to the public
SUMMARY:
As a part of their expansion, the
Ravel Hotel in Long Island City
added a restaurant called Estate
Garden Grill and beer garden that
are open to the public.
REACH:
26,570 people (as of 6/26/17)
COMMENTS:
ESTABLISHED 1908
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VICTORIA SCHNEPS-YUNIS
JOSHUA SCHNEPS
Editor-in-Chief
ROBERT POZARYCKI
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DEBORAH CUSICK
Assistant Classifi ed Manager
MARLENE RUIZ
Reporter
ANTHONY GIUDICE
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(subject: Queens Snaps).
commemorating the Fourth
of July, several Queens institutions
are holding public readings of
the Declaration of Independence — the
document that announced to the whole
world our great experiment in democratic
government.
When you read or hear the Declaration
of Independence, you understand
that it represents much much more
than government. It is the guiding
standard upon which the American
way of life has been based for nearly
2 ½ centuries.
While its core principles have yet to
truly be fulfi lled, it reminds us of everything
we aspire to as Americans, along
with our mutual responsibilities to
protect each other’s inalienable rights.
Here are just some of the key points
of the Declaration of Independence
— points which are especially true in
today’s turbulent times.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident,
that all men are created equal,
that they are endowed by their Creator
with certain unalienable 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 — That
whenever any Form of Government becomes
destructive of these ends, it is the
Right of the People to alter or to abolish it,
and to institute new Government, laying
its foundation on such principles and
organizing its powers in such form, as
to them shall seem most likely to eff ect
their Safety and Happiness….
“We, therefore, the Representatives
of the United States of America, in
General Congress, Assembled, appealing
to the Supreme Judge of the world
for the rectitude of our intentions, do,
in the Name, and by Authority of the
good People of these Colonies, solemnly
publish and declare, That these united
Colonies are, and of Right ought to be
Free and Independent States, that they
are Absolved from all Allegiance to the
British Crown, and that all political
connection between them and the
State of Great Britain, is and ought to be
totally dissolved. ... And for the support
of this Declaration, with a fi rm reliance
on the protection of Divine Providence,
we mutually pledge to each other our
Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred
Honor.”
As we celebrate Independence Day
next week, let us not forget what our
Founding Fathers draft ed 241 years
ago. Let us always work together toward
fulfi lling the promise of equality
under the law. Let us also reaffi rm our
commitment to protecting individual
liberties and the ability for each American
— regardless of where they’re
from — to live the life they want to lead.
Aft er all, the American way of life
is only as strong as our commitment
to defending it.
