their elders and work to keep the doors to freedom open at a meeting held to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the signing of the Human Rights Declaration on Friday.

Canon James Francis said that freedom cannot be taken for granted and that each generation must work hard to keep the "swinging doors to freedom open.'' He began his 20-minute address with a story. He told the 50 primary and secondary students in attendance, how the escape artist Houdini used to go around challenging people. He said Houdini used to brag that he could escape from any situation he was placed in.

One day he said Houdini entered a prison and found himself locked in. He tried to use a key he had hidden but it would not work. After two hours of trying he said Houdini fell against the door and it opened.

"You see in his mind he was locked up,'' Canon Francis said.

"We have to push against those doors. In 1834 the doors were opened with the Emancipation Proclamation then they were closed,'' he said. "In 1959 we opened them when we boycotted the theatres, but then they were closed again.

In 1960 with Universal Suffrage they were opened.'' Canon Francis pointed out that the more recent Race Relations, and Human Right's acts had helped to open the doors again but now those doors had been closed.

"No one will give you your freedom. Freedom is there for the asking and the taking'' He praised the work of Amnesty International who he said were keeping a close eye on the governments of the world.

His speech struck a responsive cord with one 16-year-old Bermuda High School Student.

Johanna Flath said she was very interested in what Canon Francis had said. "I was very interested in what he had to say about the doorways and that young people have to work at avoiding the bigotry and sexism of our adult role models.

"That's very important to me that we have values of working together as a whole.'' Human Affairs Minister the Hon. Jerome Dill, who attended the event along with several other of his Parliamentary colleagues, said the recently amended Human Rights Act was a step in the right direction in the struggle to end discrimination.

"I do see my Ministry taking a bigger role in Human Rights,'' he said. "The recent amendments will show anyone who doubts that the act now has teeth. I think Canon Francis was absolutely right. We can push the door open but we must be ever vigilant because the forces that want to close those doors are always at work.''