I’m reading Walter Isaacson’s wonderful biography of Benjamin Franklin.

Franklin was the embodiment of the American archetype. On one hand, he was a self-made man who ran away from his family in Boston and established himself as a success in Philadelphia. He always believed in the civic good and served his community with everything from microloans for small businesses to encouraging diversity of religious thought.

Issacson shares the story that when a hall was being built to allow for visiting preachers to speak, Franklin urged his fellow citizens to donate so that “even if the Mufti of Constantinople were to send a missionary to preach Mohammedanism, they would find a pulpit for his service.” Imagine that!

On this our 242^nd birthday, please remember that the Republic has withstood many difficulties yet we’ve found a way to recover from them. Stand your ground in matters of conscience and do so in a way that helps others and our common good.

© Richard Citrin, All rights reserved, 2018

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