A city of Little Rock photo of Bill Worthen, director of the Historic Arkansas Museum, reading the Declaration of Independence at the museum today seems a good way to kick off the open line. U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton made his announcement with a photo in full battle gear from his days in war service. I mean no disrespect that perhaps others should  send out a Twitter with quill pen, Underwood upright or Radio Shack portable or a mobile phone with video camera. The First Amendment — along with ideas and speech genehrally — I’m still convinced are every bit is powerful — often moreso — than terrorists or armies.

For Independence Day entertainment:

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* THINGS THOMAS JEFFERSON DID NOT SAY: But are often misattributed to him.

* FACT-CHECKING THE FOUNDING FATHERS: Politifacts replays some occasions where people play loose with history for political purposes.

* FREEDOM OF RELIGION: On this day when an Arkansas senator has written about his belief that a single church denomination (one whose historical roots were nobly supportive of keeping church and state apart) should be guiding state public policy, it’s probably a good time to go to the Virginia Historical Society for its backgrounder on Declaration of Independence writer Thomas Jefferson and the 1986 Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom.

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Class dismissed. Fried chicken anyone? That’s our choice. Watermelon? Fireworks? Careful on the last. I was almost blinded by one in 1967 and have never gotten close to them again.

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