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January 23,'1973
<br />
<br /> At a regular City Council meeting held on January 23, 1973, in the City Council Chamber,
<br />there were presenT:
<br />
<br />Jack P. Barnes, E. Saunders Early, Jr., James W. Holl~y, Burrell R. Johnson,
<br />Isaac W. King, Raymond B. Smith, Robert W. Wentz, Jr., A. P. Johnson, Jr.,
<br />City Manager, W. J. O'Brien, Jr., City Attorney.
<br />
<br />Prayer was offered by Councilman King.
<br />
<br />Mayor Barnes extended a word of welcome
<br />
<br /> Motion of Mr. Smith and seconded by Mr.
<br />was adopted by the following vote:
<br />
<br />to visitors in attendance.
<br />
<br />Johnson, to approve the minutes as
<br />
<br />received,
<br />
<br /> Ayes: Early, Holley, Johnson, King, Smith, Wentz, Barnes
<br /> Nays: None
<br />73-21
<br /> Mayor Barnes presented Resolutions of Appreciation to the followinggormer Boards and
<br />Commissions members:
<br /> Mrs. Clyde M. Rawls, Library Board
<br /> Mr. T. J. Lawrence,[LibraryfBna~d (not present)
<br /> Mr. Frank H. Wright, 3hibrary~Boa~d (not present)
<br /> Mr. Sherman Askew, Board of Electrical Examiners
<br /> Mr. B. C. Moring, Jr., Planning Commission
<br /> Mr. Shirley Hanbury, Minimum Housing Board
<br /> 73-22
<br /> Philip J. Enrico, Jr., Woodrow Wilson High School senior, the winner in the "Voice of
<br />Democrac~'contest was presented by Mr. Frank Cadleon. Mr. Enrico read the following:
<br />
<br /> "It has been said that freedom is only a state of mind, a dream, that it is not an
<br />absolute. Yet, what a dream freedom is. Freedom is the substance of America's faith, hope,
<br />and strength. Freedom is a dozen and more churches in ~very city filled with people on a
<br />Sabbath.~Freedom is a hot and sticky council meetingat~ City Hall jammed with irate citizens
<br />who do not cower before their leaders, but castigate them. Freedom is a hundred million care
<br />traveling across the greatest industrial nation in the history of manking--every one a symbol
<br />of prosperity. Freedom is the gargantuan city with its choking dust, its congestion of people,
<br />its limitless social opportunities and deprivations. However, freedom is also a placid
<br />countryside dotted with small farms and towns and with pleasant, rather homely people who
<br />plainly enjoy the rustic simplicity of their existence. Freedom is a billion and more books
<br />printed annually and freedom is the privilege and ability to read those billion and more books
<br />~reedom is the thrill of pride a poor man feels when a dSzen important judges, lawyers, and
<br />clerks take his side against the ~ichest and most powerful man in town. Freedom i~ the oppor~
<br />tunity to contribute one's money to a program for starving children who live halfway aroun~
<br />the ~love, or freedom is the choice to use that money to buy liquor and drBgs and to shut
<br />eyes~to all that hurts and needs help. Freedom is the United.States of America, with all the
<br />majesty of that name, where 200 million people can enjoy the benefits given them through the
<br />hardships, toil, and blood of their progenitors.
<br />
<br /> Yes, freedom is all these things. Yet, if freedom lack a sense of responsibility, then
<br />is freedom dead. The unrestrained exercise of one man's "freedom" can deprive man other men
<br />of their just freedom; and if even one man is a slave, freedom is dead to all. True freedom,
<br />then, can be found only if there is responsible freedom. Just as freedom's benefits are many,
<br />so too are its responsibilities.
<br />
<br /> As an American I have an obligation to support the faith of my choice. Americans have
<br />always been stanch defenders of religious liberty; but today only forty percent of the entire
<br />population of the United States participates in public worship or even contributes materially
<br />to the numerous faiths of our nation. Everywhere there are dangers to religious liberty and
<br />to the general morality of our people. The air waves of radio and television have invaded
<br />even the homes of America with cheap and vulgar entertainment. Where are the stentorian
<br />voices of former days which decried such abuses of our freedom? They still exist, and they
<br />are the sure guarantees that America's moral fiber is as strong and as resilient as at any
<br />time in here history.
<br />
<br /> As responsible citizens we must let our representative~ know how we feel about vital issues.
<br />We citizens should correspond regularly with our representa2ives in the Congress, and even wi~h
<br />our representatives in the state legislature and in the-local government. - ~
<br />
<br /> The people of the United States are certainly among the most literate in the world. Wha~
<br />a~paradox, then,~that as the people have become more literate, certain elements~of the press
<br />have become more irresponsible. We ought to review current opinions of controversy in-an
<br />impartial manner, not taking the word of one authority on faith, but examining tha issue from
<br />all possible viewpoints and, on the basis of reason, to form a judicious opinion on which to
<br />base individual action. Furthermore, we ought to hear the opinions of our fellow citizens
<br />without consideration of irrelevant prejudices.
<br />
<br /> My ultimate responsibility is to hear arms for the defense of
<br />I must be willing to give my life to the nation which has sustained
<br />opportunities.
<br />
<br />the homeland. If necessary,
<br />me and given me so many
<br />
<br /> Freedom may be many things, but it is not a ~ift to be received without a price. The
<br />price of freedom is a courageous citizenry~which is ever vigilant. It is a citizenry which
<br />recognizes its responsibility and does it without regard to personal loss. Yes, those who
<br />believe that freedom is an idyllic dream are wiser than they realize. What they, and we,
<br />must remember is that in our dreams begins our responsibility.
<br />
<br />
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