The Thomas Paine Society is set to host a town hall meeting exploring the Declaration of Independence and its profound impact on America and the world. The event, scheduled for Sunday, June 30 from 3 to 5 p.m., will take place at the historic Castle Green in Old Town Pasadena, located at 99 S. Raymond Ave.
“His words and his actions really represent the ideals that we hold dear that are written into the Declaration of Independence,” Alaine Lowell, the society’s Executive Director, said in a statement. “So he’s one of those people that should be held up as an example of moral character, trustworthy, honest… those kinds of things.”
The society, founded in 1993 and based in Pasadena, aims to educate the public about Paine’s vital role in the American Revolution. Lowell noted that many people celebrate the Declaration of Independence on July 4 without fully understanding its contents or Paine’s influence.
“We’re going to go through that and enlighten people about how it was written, why it was written, and the details within it,” Lowell explained. The presentation will also highlight how Thomas Paine “was extremely important in the creation of that document.”
Paine played a crucial role in inspiring the American colonies to declare independence. His pamphlet, “Common Sense,” published in 1776, was literally revolutionary in its time and had a profound impact on the American population, swaying public sentiment towards independence. The society regards Paine as an “extremely important figure” in American history.
The town hall will feature acclaimed actor Ian Ruskin portraying Thomas Paine. A remote guest speaker will discuss the often overlooked and misunderstood “Laws of Nature” referenced in the document’s opening paragraph.
Lowell revealed that the presentation is based on research for an upcoming documentary about the Declaration of Independence and Paine. The society hopes to raise funds for this project through the event.
A donation of $25 is recommended for entry into the town hall. For an earlier event, donations of $10 are encouraged for attendees. Proceeds will support the documentary’s production, which has been in development for about a year.
For more information about the Thomas Paine Society, visit www.thomaspainesociety.org or call Alaine Lowell at (626) 484-1848 or email tpsociety@sbcglobal.net.
