And came for a particular type of freedom and had to Work Together for a first ethically diverse society, ethnic and religious and background diversity truly leads to creativity. It was that sort of bubbling mix there that allows philadelphia to become a place of great commerce, but also, a place of great middle class entreprene entrepreneursh entrepreneurship. Startup and innovation. Benjamin franklin eventually decides after being an apprentice to a printer there to start his own print shop. And goes over to england, buys the type and the found rips and stuff. Back then, philadelphia had i think 11 newspapers and he starts the 12th. It was really great in the days in which it was great competing voices and there were newspapers for the and he kans and for penn family and the propry tories and people loyal to the crown and ben franklin starts the first really independent newspaper, not affiliated with any faction but really being willing to poke fun at all factions and to stand up for
People to come home to. So he has that, and poly is very close to him and comes over when he is dying and comes over when he dies. On social media and other things, Benjamin Franklin believed very strongly that the free flow of ideas and free opinion of spread of ideas would empower people and eventually, in a very raggedy way, lead to more democracy, more liberties, more individual empowerment. He believed if there were 11 papers, there was room for a 12th. He believed nobody should control the free flow of information. He helped instill in americas dna by bringing thomas paine over, for example, and helping paine, you know, print pamphlets and hand them out on the Street Corner. He was able and by the way, thomas paine Benjamin Franklin, they are like the first bloggers in a way. I mean, these are pamphleteers and they are spreading ideas. Nowadays if you look at china, which is once again cracking down on the free flow of ideas, and if you look at what the free flow of ideas is doin
So, tonights program is james madison, father of the constitution, and it is part of series incture American History. I wouldnt you think carl mingus for all of his support and his evaluation he is a valued member of the new york society. Trustee carl, thank you. [applause] i would also like to recognize and thank trustees von , and allally sternberg the chairman with us for their great work as well. Let us give a hand. [applause] an program tonight will last hour and include a question and answer session, and there will be a formal book signing following the program. Our speakers books can be found in our museum store, and he will be signing on the Central Park West side. We are thrilled to welcome richard brookhiser, renowned historian and author, back to New York Historical society. Is a seniorer editor of National Review as well as columnist for American History. In 2004 he acted as history and curator for New York Historicals exhibit, alligator hamilton, the man who made water in