By now, everyone around Madison should know the story behind the iconic statue located in Four Freedoms Park. This notion of the four freedoms stems from Franklin D. Roosevelt's Jan. 6, 1941, State of the Union address. In the speech, Roosevelt proposed the idea that people "everywhere in the world" ought to enjoy the: Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Worship, Freedom from Want and Freedom from Fear.
Fast forward a few months to the early days of World War II. In the Philippines, a dashing young pilot from Madison, Fla., named Colin Kelly, is shot down by Japanese fighter planes. Kelly manages to keep his flaming bomber flying long enough for his surviving crew members to bail out before he was killed in a fiery crash. Kelly became one of the first true heroes of World War II. It was in his honor that the statue we see in Four Freedoms Park was carved.
The great American artist, Norman Rockwell, painted four paintings depicting these same four freedoms. I have always been struck by the painting depicting "Freedom of Speech." In the painting, a man is standing and obviously speaking his mind at some kind of town meeting. He's a modest man. The weathered details of his face and hands show that he is a man who has worked hard all his life. Each time I see this painting, I am reminded of my grandfather, who lived in Greenville. Papa was a man who was not fancy. He worked hard all his life. He was a simple man of God who would speak his mind, if the need arose; much like the man in Rockwell's painting.
Recently, I was told I was not allowed to attend a meeting of the Town Council in Greenville. The only way anyone from the public was allowed to participate in the meeting was through the computer. Aside from a possible violation of Florida's "Sunshine Laws," this doesn't seem quite right to me. I understand concerns over the virus, but could the Town Council of Greenville be using this virus as an excuse to restrict people from participating in public meetings? What about the person who may not own a computer? Are they not allowed to practice their "Freedom of Speech?" The executive order issued by Gov. DeSantis calling for local governments to hold meetings "virtually" expired at the end of October. I'm sure if the Greenville Town Council can find a way to pay a town manager $80,000 a year, they can find a way to safely hold meetings that allow for at least some in-person citizen participation, and scrutiny from the media.
For myself, I am able to gather the information I need in order to pass along what happens in the meetings of the Greenville Town Council. As a member of the news media, I don't see the need to "have my voice heard" in terms of the business of Greenville. My concern is for those citizens in the Town of Greenville who are basically having their voices silenced because of a possible lack of technology. Hopefully, this isn't intentional on the part of the council, but the end result is still the same.
I am stuck with the question; did Colin Kelly give his life for just three out of the four Freedoms?