All of the delegates signed the Declaration of Independence on Aug. 2, 1776.

The four signers from the New York delegation were William Floyd, Francis Lewis, Philip Livingston and Lewis Morris. All of them were from prominent, wealthy families, and all the signers were accomplished businessmen from families accustomed to participating in the slave trade.

One person responding to the article written regarding Rene Marie said that America needed to grow up and that it may be incapable of living up the image of a place where there is a tapestry of people. Another writer said that Rene should have been yanked off the stage, asserting that she was tampering with the sacred national anthem. His choice of descriptive adjectives about Rene was indicative of his claim to find the National Anthem of more value than the Black National Anthem.

Looking back at the history of the Declaration of Independence for which we celebrate this day, July 4, it is clear that those who signed were happy with their stock in the thirteen colonies, and why shouldn't they feel content? The more one thinks about Rene's intentions the more one has to assert, " Is America Possible," and is America ready for a Black president?

Most of those making the decisions at the onset of the republic certainly looked alike and had similar values. For those of you who do not know Rene, she represents values of decency and courage that are often lacking in our modern day lives. She stood for what she believed. She sang beautifully. Mayor Hickenlooper, a wealth entrepreneur, as well as the second most influential White man in the state, laughed when he stated, that "I spent over fifty hours working on this speech and Rene will long be remembered for her role in this State of the City Address." We should all be so fortunate and wealthy in character, that we can laugh at our situation and regard the other as having a legitimate expression of the hope and charity of our world.

Cursing the dawn is a futile pursuit. This era is far too significant, and for far too long has given cowards protection from the acute perception of accountability. On this day let us dedicate out lives to peace and the wisdom of accepting the other in thought and deed as our neighbor, and a citizen. Let us proclaim this pursuit of “Life Liberty and the Pursuit of happiness,” throughout the land as a fundamental right. Finally, let every citizen of this earth live forever in peace.