Chenango County Justices discuss incredible power of free speech
NORWICH – This year's Chenango County Law Day celebration honored a retired army veteran with the Liberty Bell Award and promoted the responsible use of free speech.
The event began at 1 p.m. Friday at the Chenango County Courthouse, and representatives of different aspects of the local legal system were present.
One of the speakers at the event, Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth A. Garry, discussed the importance and power of the United States Constitution, and the importance of using that responsibly.
"I'm going to take a quote from Spiderman," said Garry. "With great power comes great responsibility."
She said the power of the constitution and of free speech has been proven time and time again in the United States legal system, but it has been challenged, sometimes for good reason.
"The first amendment ensures with very limited exceptions, the government does not punish or limit us in what we say, think, or write," said Gary. "Our constitution in fact, allows all sorts of unquestionably bad, indecent, even immoral behavior."
She said in a famous case, The Village of Skokie vs. The National Socialist Party of America, which occurred in 1978, the United States Supreme Court held that exercises of free speech are protected by the constitution.
"Nazi storm troopers, carrying signs that proclaimed, 'White free speech,' and 'Free speech for the whites,' with swastika emblems," said Garry. "These people were allowed to march in a small village, and in this village more than half of the population were of Jewish faith or ancestry."
She said approximate 10 percent of the people in the village had actually been Nazi concentration camp survivors.
"When we pause, as we should, to think about the absolute outrageousness in that, the indecency, in some manner we now know the cost of our freedom," said Garry. "I know that sounds very grim, but I'm going to turn a little bit and tell you that one of the great quotes from Spiderman, 'With great power comes great responsibility."
She said each and every one of us are fully entrusted with maintaining the fabric of our free society.
"It is a tremendous responsibility," said Garry. "Government officials in our free society are limited in the degree to which any can tell us how to think, what to say, what to believe, or who we can communicate with or how."
Our laws are enforced with restraint, she said, which adds to the importance of treating people with dignity and respect.
"In a community like ours we know very well how important it is to treat our neighbors with respect and civility," said Garry. "The world is smaller than it has ever been before, and we have to bring those qualities of small town living to our much bigger state."
According to Chenango County Court Judge Frank Revoir Jr., an example of that person who has demonstrated incredible integrity is this year's Liberty Bell award recipient, Retired United States Army Sergeant Major Joseph F. Santiago.
He said the Liberty Bell award goes to non-attorneys who, through their life example, promote respect for the law and the Constitution.
“The Liberty Bell Award was established more than 40 years ago to acknowledge outstanding service performed by a non-lawyer citizen who has given time and energy to strengthen the effectiveness of the American system of freedom under law, in keeping with the spirit of our Constitution.,” said Revoir. “It is awarded to someone who has promoted better understanding of the rule of law, encouraged greater respect for law and the courts, stimulated a sense of civic responsibility, or contributed to good government in the community.”
Revoir said Santiago has 27 years of military experience including three combat tours in Iraq and multiple deployments around the world.
Revoir added that in addition to his military experience, Santiago was also employed at the New York State Veterans’ Home as a senior licensed practical nurse for over 10 years, and has been a VFW commander for three years.
Santiago pushed for the Veteran Service Officer position in Chenango County, he said.
He added that Santiago worked with the memorial committee to implement a memorial for Chenango County combat veterans so they were not forgotten, and has worked with the American Legion to raise funds for the New York State Veterans’ Home.
Pictured: Norwich City Court Judge Michael J. Genute, Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth A. Garry, Liberty Bell Award Recipient Joseph Santiago, Chenango County Court Judge Frank Revoir Jr., and Afton Town Court Judge Pamela J. Wylubski at the Chenango County Law Day event. (Zachary Meseck photo)
The event began at 1 p.m. Friday at the Chenango County Courthouse, and representatives of different aspects of the local legal system were present.
One of the speakers at the event, Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth A. Garry, discussed the importance and power of the United States Constitution, and the importance of using that responsibly.
"I'm going to take a quote from Spiderman," said Garry. "With great power comes great responsibility."
She said the power of the constitution and of free speech has been proven time and time again in the United States legal system, but it has been challenged, sometimes for good reason.
"The first amendment ensures with very limited exceptions, the government does not punish or limit us in what we say, think, or write," said Gary. "Our constitution in fact, allows all sorts of unquestionably bad, indecent, even immoral behavior."
She said in a famous case, The Village of Skokie vs. The National Socialist Party of America, which occurred in 1978, the United States Supreme Court held that exercises of free speech are protected by the constitution.
"Nazi storm troopers, carrying signs that proclaimed, 'White free speech,' and 'Free speech for the whites,' with swastika emblems," said Garry. "These people were allowed to march in a small village, and in this village more than half of the population were of Jewish faith or ancestry."
She said approximate 10 percent of the people in the village had actually been Nazi concentration camp survivors.
"When we pause, as we should, to think about the absolute outrageousness in that, the indecency, in some manner we now know the cost of our freedom," said Garry. "I know that sounds very grim, but I'm going to turn a little bit and tell you that one of the great quotes from Spiderman, 'With great power comes great responsibility."
She said each and every one of us are fully entrusted with maintaining the fabric of our free society.
"It is a tremendous responsibility," said Garry. "Government officials in our free society are limited in the degree to which any can tell us how to think, what to say, what to believe, or who we can communicate with or how."
Our laws are enforced with restraint, she said, which adds to the importance of treating people with dignity and respect.
"In a community like ours we know very well how important it is to treat our neighbors with respect and civility," said Garry. "The world is smaller than it has ever been before, and we have to bring those qualities of small town living to our much bigger state."
According to Chenango County Court Judge Frank Revoir Jr., an example of that person who has demonstrated incredible integrity is this year's Liberty Bell award recipient, Retired United States Army Sergeant Major Joseph F. Santiago.
He said the Liberty Bell award goes to non-attorneys who, through their life example, promote respect for the law and the Constitution.
“The Liberty Bell Award was established more than 40 years ago to acknowledge outstanding service performed by a non-lawyer citizen who has given time and energy to strengthen the effectiveness of the American system of freedom under law, in keeping with the spirit of our Constitution.,” said Revoir. “It is awarded to someone who has promoted better understanding of the rule of law, encouraged greater respect for law and the courts, stimulated a sense of civic responsibility, or contributed to good government in the community.”
Revoir said Santiago has 27 years of military experience including three combat tours in Iraq and multiple deployments around the world.
Revoir added that in addition to his military experience, Santiago was also employed at the New York State Veterans’ Home as a senior licensed practical nurse for over 10 years, and has been a VFW commander for three years.
Santiago pushed for the Veteran Service Officer position in Chenango County, he said.
He added that Santiago worked with the memorial committee to implement a memorial for Chenango County combat veterans so they were not forgotten, and has worked with the American Legion to raise funds for the New York State Veterans’ Home.
Pictured: Norwich City Court Judge Michael J. Genute, Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth A. Garry, Liberty Bell Award Recipient Joseph Santiago, Chenango County Court Judge Frank Revoir Jr., and Afton Town Court Judge Pamela J. Wylubski at the Chenango County Law Day event. (Zachary Meseck photo)
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