Dear Editor: At a time when “civilized discourse” seems to be a rarity, and many, even within families, avoid issues such as politics or religion, it is important to realize the values inscribed in the Constitution of the United States.

When revisionist history is being taught in classrooms and speech is prevented by some claiming their right to protest, a speech given by the late Ronald Reagan in 1961 may help to give a broader perspective. Here is how he closed his speech.

“Our Founding Fathers, here in this country, brought about the only true revolution that has ever taken place in man’s history. Every other revolution simply exchanged one set of rulers for another set of rulers. But only here did that little band of men so advanced beyond their time that the world has never seen their like since, evolve the idea that you and I have within ourselves the God-given right and the ability to determine our own destiny.

“But freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it on to our children in the bloodstream. The only way they can inherit the freedom we have known is if we fight for it, protect it, defend it, and then hand it to them with the well thought lessons of how they in their lifetime must do the same. And if you and I don’t do this, then you and I may well spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it once was like in America when men were free.”

When we practice the Truth given by Christ, we help to maintain this freedom.

THOMAS C. CULLINANE                                                                                                                                                                           Bayside