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<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><img width="624" height="147" style="width:6.5in;height:1.5312in" id="_x0000_i1025" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D64E28.ACF760C0" alt="A close up of a logo
Description automatically generated"></span><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">June 29, 2020<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><u><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans"">This Independence Day, let’s unite for a thriving future
<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="text-align:center"><i><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">By Governor Brad Little<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">The celebration of Independence Day this year will be unlike any other.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">Our experience with coronavirus will strip away much of the barbecues and fireworks displays that have traditionally marked Independence Day festivities.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">I’m saddened about that, but I choose to see an opportunity this year to more deeply reflect on where we’ve been as a country and where we’re headed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">At its core, the anniversary of our country celebrates a group of renegades rejecting an oppressive monarchy and standing up for a system that should recognize every single
human being is equal – both under the laws of government and in the eyes of the Lord.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">Self-determination is the bedrock of our identity as a people.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">Our system of government is brilliant, but it was never intended to be perfect. In fact, the quest for “a more perfect union,” as envisioned in our Constitution, should never
cease. I’m reminded of an often-told story about the response Benjamin Franklin offered when asked what sort of government we had established. He said, “A republic, if you can keep it.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">Independence Day is as much about our future as it is about our history. The survival of our country depends on each and every one of us playing an active, informed role
in keeping our republic alive. I believe Idahoans embody what our founders envisioned.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">Angst across the country seems to be at an all-time high. We are seemingly fractured. But as I travel the state, I see mostly love, care, and concern for others happening
all around me.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">I see unity.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">We are united both in our longing to protect the values that built our great country and in our longing for a better future for America.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">America has survived a civil war, two world wars, economic depression and, yes, pandemics. These are trying times, but as I have said before, history will remember how we
dealt with the challenges. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">Life is all about choices. Let’s choose to take a deep breath and love our neighbors. Let’s choose to unite around our commitment in seeing our country thrive for future
generations of Idahoans. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">God bless Idaho and the United States of America.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""># # #<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">360 words</span></i><o:p></o:p></p>
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