What Would Thomas Jefferson Say?
April 13th marked Thomas Jefferson's birthday, to celebrate a group of like minded people choose to exercise their freedom of expression by openly dancing at the Thomas Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C. While admittedly they were not the best of dancers (see video found here) clearly they were remaining peaceful and not harming anyone as evident in the video. Along come the police and arrests at least one protester (see video here), Brooke Oberwetter for dancing while asking the rest to leave the grounds of the memorial.
What would Thomas Jefferson say if he were alive and witnessed those dancing in his honor being tossed out and arrested from his very own memorial on the day of remembrance for his birth?
The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions, that I wish it always to be kept alive. - Thomas Jefferson
The will of the people is the only legitimate foundation of any government, and to protect its free expression should be our first object. - Thomas Jefferson
Richard Barnes
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Here are more I like:
"A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine."
But that just means that the other 49% need to be sure their rights are NOT taken away. I wonder if he'd support gay equality in everything, including marriage.
"Conquest is not in our principles. It is inconsistent with our government."
Would he be thrilled with our actions in invading Iraq?
"Educate and inform the whole mass of the people... They are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty."
What would he think about our hesitancy to support even "adequate" levels of education, and our resistance to talking about "excellence" in education. Shame on us.
"He who knows best knows how little he knows."
I think he'd probably give all of us a little lecture if we think we have all the answers. I sure know I don't.
"Information is the currency of democracy."
I suppose he'd be disappointed that so much of our government locally and nationally is decided behind closed doors, or by lobbyists, or by campaign donations.
"One man with courage is a majority."
I think he'd appreciate a lot of the Bloggers on NHInsider.com -- the "liberals" and the "conservatives," and those in between.
As far as how he would view Iraq. That's an interesting question. Not that I'm a supporter of the war in its current state but it would be an interesting question of how Jefferson would have viewed it. I may take a stab at writing a short essay addressing that question. I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts on it once I post it.
As for his views on education, while Jefferson was a strong proponent of public education I think he would have a hard time with what our education has devolved into. For starters he supported breaking out the best students and teaching them separately. "Diversity" as being pushed today tries to lump as many kids regardless of skills together to try to bring about a correct mix of race and gender. Totally goes against breaking out the best of the best based on ability alone. He also supported religious education as part of public education in that people should be educated in ALL faiths.
As far as what he would think of us here on NHInsider? Not sure. Here's a quote that will get you thinking...
"I do not take a single newspaper, nor read one a month, and I feel myself infinitely the happier for it."
Over all though I think he'd be fairly unhappy with how this country turned out on many levels.
"I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them."
"Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add 'within the limits of the law' because law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual."
"That government is best which governs the least, because its people discipline themselves."
"A wise and frugal government, which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor and bread it has earned - this is the sum of good government."
Jefferson sent US troops to Tripoli to stop pirates who were taking Americans and American ships hostage. 1803-1805?
The pirates were arab leaders of small city states used to exacting ransom for hostages and did not bother us until we became independent of England.
The first two US presidents paid the arab pirates off as did the French for another 50 years after we took military action.
I beleive Jefferson let Congress know he sent tropos to the Mediteranian after the fact at the state of the union address to congress.
This may give you some indication of how he would handle terrorists, and in our present case, the news media.
You historical accuracy is as sound as your politics.
Jefferson informed Congress of the planned attack on the Barbary pirates, and Congress authorized the attack.
Jefferson did pay ransom for captured US sailors.
France ended the pirates reign when it conquered Algeria in 1830. This was 25 years after the first Barbary War and 15 after the second war.
But they were Arabs, sort of. At least, they spoke Arabic.
And I believe Jefferson would support most of the military stand offs in the middle east. The problem with Iraq though is that we are no longer actively seeking terrorists or WMDs. Somewhere along the line our mission there changed from seek and destroy to play police for a new local government. That's where we crossed the line in my opinion.
That said, just because I disagree with the current president's policy doesn't mean that's ground for impeachment either as Jim is pushing for. Heck, if we impeached every politician we disagreed with we'd do away with government.
You know I am surprised the impeachment movement didn't start when Bill Clinton, Janet Reno, Web Hubble, Vince Foster, and Stuffinenvelpoes, plotted to, then murdered 21 kids and assorted mothers and adults at Waco when it was known there was no proof of any sexual abuse of the kids - the final excuse for burning them alive.
And using torture such as sleep, food and water deprevation, high frequency noise blasted at them, and CS gas used on little kids was just fine.
Ah but we impeached the lying sexual predator on another venture of his. I think THAT is the main reason the left is impeachment crazy.
Mike Moonbat is back "straightening me out" on history. Mike Moonbat's history is as shakey as his NH budget projections.
There were at least 11 male members of the Jefferson clan on the ranch that could have left DNA in old sally - at least that is what the "science' involved with the Hemmings family history reveals.
Which leaves me wondering?
Do think she ever got a chance to "visit" the Oval Office?
And would that have made Mrs. Jefferson a viable candidate for the US Senate or President?