Happy Fourth of July!

After a busy week traveling to Pittsburgh and San Francisco, talking to activists about the Supreme Court and to donors about People For’s work, I’m using the long weekend to spend some much needed time with my family. I hope you too will have a happy and healthy Fourth of July!

I heard from many of you in the last week in response to my Friday Note about George Carlin and Big Bird. Your ideas about how best to use culture to bring change to America were wonderful. I hope that in the coming months I will have the opportunity to talk with you more about the direction of our country and what People For can do to create an America that values religious liberty and free speech, a democracy where all our voices and votes count.

When Norman Lear read last week’s Note, he reminded me that in 1982, Big Bird, Martin Sheen and the Muppets participated in “I Love Liberty,” a two-hour television special that Norman produced for People For the American Way. The Muppets do a wonderful reenactment of the First Continental Congress in Philadelphia, reminding us all that our nation’s founders were a group of unruly rebels who stood up to tyranny. If you have a moment this weekend, watch this terrific blast from the past … preferably with your children or grandchildren who might not yet know about our nation’s rich history. You can watch the video on YouTube here.

Today we celebrate the patriots who inspired their friends and neighbors, and launched an independent nation committed to justice and the rule of law. They remind us that with passion and principle on our side, we too can make a difference.

As Margaret Mead said so well, “A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

Thanks for your support, and have a great holiday!