House Bill 9071

    Florida House of Representatives - 1999                HR 9071

        By Representative Sembler






  1                         House Resolution

  2         A resolution designating January 29 as "Thomas

  3         Paine Day."

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  5         WHEREAS, Thomas Paine was born on January 29, 1737, and

  6         WHEREAS, Thomas Paine, a peer of George Washington,

  7  James Madison, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson, a

  8  leader of the American Revolution, and one of the Founding

  9  Fathers of the United States, was one of the most brilliant

10  political philosophers of his time, and

11         WHEREAS, in his classic work "Common Sense," Thomas

12  Paine crystallized the American Colonies' decision for

13  independence, and

14         WHEREAS, Thomas Paine supported the American Revolution

15  through personal service, his personal finances, and his

16  inspirational "Crisis Papers," and

17         WHEREAS, Thomas Paine was the first person to pen the

18  title "the United States of America," and

19         WHEREAS, Thomas Paine was a forerunner of Abraham

20  Lincoln, advocating the abolition of slavery years before

21  Lincoln was born, and

22         WHEREAS, Thomas Paine's book "The Rights of Man"

23  remains today as the defining work on democracy, and

24         WHEREAS, just as the passionate nature of his writing

25  set the course of America for democracy over 200 years ago,

26  Thomas Paine's life and work continue to inspire people the

27  world over who seek liberty and democracy, and

28         WHEREAS, it is fitting and appropriate that Thomas

29  Paine, one of the greatest contributors to the foundation of

30  the United States, and to the principles of liberty and

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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida House of Representatives - 1999                HR 9071

    285-164A-99






  1  democracy throughout the world, be accorded the honor and

  2  recognition that has long been overdue him, NOW, THEREFORE,

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  4  Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of

  5  Florida:

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  7         That the House of Representatives of the State of

  8  Florida hereby designates January 29 as "Thomas Paine Day"

  9  throughout the State of Florida.

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