'While we may regret that the Founders did not act as we fancy that we, with the benefit of hindsight and nothing at stake but a pretension to virtue, would act, we should nonetheless celebrate the fact that they “set in motion the forces that would ultimately destroy” slavery, as Bailyn noted.'
Presentism is one of the most virulent intellectual diseases of our time. Your essay is a vaccine to this illness of mind.
Jackson and Rao and many others have presented me with theses that have prompted the finest antitheses - yours being a superlative example. Thus history progresses. Every day's a classroom day. As Goya said in rheumy old age 'Aún aprendo'.
While the execution of the founding documents failed to secure liberty for all, they were unique in human history and how societies were organized. Slavery and servitude of one segment of the population to the other was human history.
At their worst, these documents were IOU's for oppressed individuals of the country. Unfortunately, redemption of that IOU took years of suffering, shedding of blood, and brought out the darker angels of many in power.
Loved this and sharing it in some of my circles that need quality alternatives to, as you put it, the "progress-free progressivism" that tend to dominate and intimidate their good-hearted intentions. Thank you
Excellent discussion in many respects. Please note that the "preamble" to the Declaration of Independence is the initial paragraph, which begins, "When in the course of human events..."
We have hit the milestone of 248 years, inching ever closer to our Semiquincentennial. Of course the question on everyone’s mind is, Will we make it? I find myself unable to answer that, but clearly my earnest hopes are that we will.
Both our major parties have proven themselves incapable of governance, and unworthy of bearing the mantle. Putting all other things aside, all we need do is take a cursory look at how they have deliberately misrepresented the health and public statements of their two standard-bearers. They’ve lied to us. They continue to lie to us. Go beyond that, and both sides have aligned themselves with causes that openly defy reality. The debate over the inadequacies over the two-party system have raged for decades, perhaps centuries. Well, today we have proof of how ruinous it is.
Perhaps a better question for us is: What, exactly, are we celebrating? Our birthday, yes, and our independence. But true independence is achieved when we are no longer beholden to an ideology, to a predetermined structure of beliefs, thoughts and actions. When we are no longer beholden to people telling us how to live, nor to indulging the temptation to tell others how to live. All we need to embrace is the basic framework of being honest with ourselves and others.
Independence is achieved when we strive without pause to pursue Truth, and when we do learn Truth to proclaim it with every breath. With my apologies to the Founders, it is a psychological truth that the focused pursuit of happiness leads to misery. Because those things that make us happy ebb and flow, like supply and demand. But the pursuit of purpose - rooted in Truth - will allow us to discover that true happiness lies within us, and this happiness is everlasting.
There is room for all Americans to find this happiness. There is room for all Americans to find this independence. When we insist that others adopt our own beliefs, we don’t advance the values of this nation or spread democracy. Instead, we mire ourselves in endless and pointless battles. To the intractable notion that I am right and you are wrong and my right will prevail by any means necessary.
Instead, may there be no might other than that of Truth .Of bedrock values of honesty and compassion... May we always be open to the lived experiences and the judgments of others and be willing to engage these beliefs and those who hold them in endless conversation. May we celebrate the Human Spirit in all its diversity and forever be willing to help and be helped. And yes, in case you were wondering if I were going to write it: God Bless America,
MLK Jr. preached that “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”
In his ‘Letter from the Birmingham Jail,’ King said “we will have to repent in this generation not merely for the vitriolic words and actions of the bad people but for the appalling silence of the good people.”
DOVER, NEW HAMPSHIRE Passed a RESOLUTION to stop Jews from defending against a MUSLIM INVASION of Israel. [4/10/2024-vote-7-1]
WHITE Councilwoman LINDSEY WILLIAMS did not pass a Resolution to stop MUSLIMS from KILLING over 80,000 BLACKS in Nigeria.
WHITE MayorROBERT CARRIER did not pass a Resolution to stop MUSLIMS from KILLING over 45,000 CHRISTIANS in Nigeria.
WHITE Councilman DENNIS SHANAHAN did not pass a Resolution to stop 20 MUSLIM countries at WAR against ISRAEL, since1948. [Afghanistan, Algeria,Bangladesh,Brunei, Comoros, Djibouti, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Yeman.]
WHITE Councilman ANTHONY RETROSI did not pass a Resolution to stop 29 MUSLIM countries KILLING and PERSECUTING CHRISTIANS. [Afghanistan Algeria, Azerbaijan,Bangladesh, Brunei, Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Mali,Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Yeman]
Councilwoman L. NEMETH did not pass a Resolution to stop MUSLIM Countries from continuing SLAVERY of BLACKS. [Saudi Arabia 740,000 Slaves; Iraq 221000 Slaves; Yemen 180,000 Slaves; Syria 153,000; UAE 132,000; Jordan 102,000; Kuwait 55,000; Lebanon 52,000; Oman 33,000; Qatar 20,000]
Neither WHITE Councilwoman APRIL RICHER nor DEBRA HACKETT passed a Resolution to stop the MUSLIM INVASION of CHRISTIAN ARMENIA causing over 30,000 CHRISTIAN DEATHS and injuries along with the DISPLACEMENT of over 120,000 CHRISTIANS.
Neither WHITE Councilman FERGUS CULLEN nor WHITE Councilman ROBERT WARACH passed a Resolution to stop the kidnapping, rape of Christian girls,forced conversion to Islamic religion, and forced marriage to PEDOPHILE MUSLIM men in Pakistan.
By Their Silence the City of DOVER, NEW HAMPSHIRE is COMPLICIT, in the MUSLIM KILLING, of BLACKS, CHRISTIANS, JEWS and SUPPORT the MUSLIM INVASION of America.
“DOVER, NEW HAMPSHIRE Passed a RESOLUTION to stop Jews from defending against a MUSLIM INVASION of Israel.”
Muslim invasion of Israel? Are you referring to the genocidal reaction by the apartheid state of Israel to the atrocities carried out by Hamas on Oct 7th?
Israel is an apartheid state currently occupying the West Bank and Gaza. The Palestinians have a right to resist an apartheid state and an occupation although they do not have a right to commit atrocities in the process. Just like the U.S. had the right to revolt against the tyranny of the British crown, but didn’t have the right to commit atrocities in the process.
No, I was talking about the silence when Muslims kill over 80,000 BLACKS in Nigeria.
No, I was talking about the silence when Muslims kill over 45,000 CHRISTIANS in Nigeria.
No, I was talking about the silence in ignoring 20 MUSLIM countries at WAR against ISRAEL, since1948 after the U N created the state of Israel.
No I Was talking about the silence to stop 29 MUSLIM countries from KILLING and PERSECUTING CHRISTIANS world wide
No I was talking bout the Muslim invasion of Armenia and the mass killing of Christians by Muslims
No I was talking about how Muslims still deal in black slaves.
No I was talking about the Muslims kidnapping, rape of Christian girls,forced conversion to Islamic religion, and forced marriage to PEDOPHILE MUSLIM men in Pakistan.
By your Silence Jeffrey you are COMPLICIT, in the MUSLIM KILLING, of BLACKS, CHRISTIANS, JEWS and SUPPORT the MUSLIM INVASION of America.
Is the United States government taking billions of dollars from tax payers to fund that stuff and diplomatically supporting it?
And why do you think I’ve been silent about any of it? Have you been listening to me?
I absolutely oppose the US government providing financial aid or weapons to theocracies, which include Islamic theocracies. I am not Christian, Jewish, or Muslim. You sound like a raving lunatic.
As for countries at war with Israel. Israel is an apartheid state formed through ethnic cleansing. That the UN made an offer to unjustly partition the territory along ethnic and religious lines and give a majority of the land to a colonialist minority has no bearing on the justice of it. The UN’s position was immoral. The UN isn’t holy. It reflected the bigotries of the factions that voted for it. Besides the offer was rightly rejected by Palestinians.
The Palestinians have a right to resist the apartheid state that is oppressing them and that carried out an ethnic cleansing to establish its dominion and they have the right to query for aid from external parties to help in their resistance. Just as the U.S. had the right to query for assistance from France in its revolution against Britain. And like France, any external assistance for Palestinians are also bound not to commit atrocities.
The U.S. should establish no less sanctions upon Israel than it did on South Africa for its apartheid. It should not be financially or militarily supporting Israel. It is immoral. If the U.S. can sanction a majority Christian country for apartheid, South Africa, there should be no problems sanctioning a majority Jewish country, Israel. Do you think Jews should have the right to rule a state which gives special rights to Jews that it does not give to non Jews and gain financial and military support from the U.S? I don’t. It’s unAmerican. And immoral. It’s a disgrace to the spirit of the Fourth of July.
The US support for liberty, not only for its own citizens, but for people around the world, is unfortunately abysmal as things stand today. If the US wishes to live up to its lofty ideals of resistance against tyranny, it must not act as a tyrant itself. The Israeli apartheid and the ongoing genocide of Palestinians in Gaza is an abominable stain on the legacy of liberty for the U.S. However as you point out, Americans have been struggling among one another in the fight for liberty. Just as the U.S. was founded by slavers, it was also founded by abolitionists. The war for liberty was not won on July 4 and it has yet to be won today. Likewise, just as the U.S. government funds and arms an apartheid and genocide, millions of citizens oppose and reject it. Maybe Americans will be able to wrest control of U.S. foreign policy from Zionists just as Americans took control away from the slavers. I am hopeful. Likewise the funding of the Ukraine government as it forces its citizens to die and get maimed in a futile war for a deeply corrupt government is likewise an abominable stain. More Americans must begin to see that what the U.S. government supports abroad is no less important than what it does domestically.
'While we may regret that the Founders did not act as we fancy that we, with the benefit of hindsight and nothing at stake but a pretension to virtue, would act, we should nonetheless celebrate the fact that they “set in motion the forces that would ultimately destroy” slavery, as Bailyn noted.'
Presentism is one of the most virulent intellectual diseases of our time. Your essay is a vaccine to this illness of mind.
Jackson and Rao and many others have presented me with theses that have prompted the finest antitheses - yours being a superlative example. Thus history progresses. Every day's a classroom day. As Goya said in rheumy old age 'Aún aprendo'.
While the execution of the founding documents failed to secure liberty for all, they were unique in human history and how societies were organized. Slavery and servitude of one segment of the population to the other was human history.
At their worst, these documents were IOU's for oppressed individuals of the country. Unfortunately, redemption of that IOU took years of suffering, shedding of blood, and brought out the darker angels of many in power.
Loved this and sharing it in some of my circles that need quality alternatives to, as you put it, the "progress-free progressivism" that tend to dominate and intimidate their good-hearted intentions. Thank you
Excellent discussion in many respects. Please note that the "preamble" to the Declaration of Independence is the initial paragraph, which begins, "When in the course of human events..."
We have hit the milestone of 248 years, inching ever closer to our Semiquincentennial. Of course the question on everyone’s mind is, Will we make it? I find myself unable to answer that, but clearly my earnest hopes are that we will.
Both our major parties have proven themselves incapable of governance, and unworthy of bearing the mantle. Putting all other things aside, all we need do is take a cursory look at how they have deliberately misrepresented the health and public statements of their two standard-bearers. They’ve lied to us. They continue to lie to us. Go beyond that, and both sides have aligned themselves with causes that openly defy reality. The debate over the inadequacies over the two-party system have raged for decades, perhaps centuries. Well, today we have proof of how ruinous it is.
Perhaps a better question for us is: What, exactly, are we celebrating? Our birthday, yes, and our independence. But true independence is achieved when we are no longer beholden to an ideology, to a predetermined structure of beliefs, thoughts and actions. When we are no longer beholden to people telling us how to live, nor to indulging the temptation to tell others how to live. All we need to embrace is the basic framework of being honest with ourselves and others.
Independence is achieved when we strive without pause to pursue Truth, and when we do learn Truth to proclaim it with every breath. With my apologies to the Founders, it is a psychological truth that the focused pursuit of happiness leads to misery. Because those things that make us happy ebb and flow, like supply and demand. But the pursuit of purpose - rooted in Truth - will allow us to discover that true happiness lies within us, and this happiness is everlasting.
There is room for all Americans to find this happiness. There is room for all Americans to find this independence. When we insist that others adopt our own beliefs, we don’t advance the values of this nation or spread democracy. Instead, we mire ourselves in endless and pointless battles. To the intractable notion that I am right and you are wrong and my right will prevail by any means necessary.
Instead, may there be no might other than that of Truth .Of bedrock values of honesty and compassion... May we always be open to the lived experiences and the judgments of others and be willing to engage these beliefs and those who hold them in endless conversation. May we celebrate the Human Spirit in all its diversity and forever be willing to help and be helped. And yes, in case you were wondering if I were going to write it: God Bless America,
Explanation: Silence is Complicity
MLK Jr. preached that “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”
In his ‘Letter from the Birmingham Jail,’ King said “we will have to repent in this generation not merely for the vitriolic words and actions of the bad people but for the appalling silence of the good people.”
SILENCE IS COMPLICITY: Dover, New Hampshire
DOVER, NEW HAMPSHIRE Passed a RESOLUTION to stop Jews from defending against a MUSLIM INVASION of Israel. [4/10/2024-vote-7-1]
WHITE Councilwoman LINDSEY WILLIAMS did not pass a Resolution to stop MUSLIMS from KILLING over 80,000 BLACKS in Nigeria.
WHITE MayorROBERT CARRIER did not pass a Resolution to stop MUSLIMS from KILLING over 45,000 CHRISTIANS in Nigeria.
WHITE Councilman DENNIS SHANAHAN did not pass a Resolution to stop 20 MUSLIM countries at WAR against ISRAEL, since1948. [Afghanistan, Algeria,Bangladesh,Brunei, Comoros, Djibouti, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Yeman.]
WHITE Councilman ANTHONY RETROSI did not pass a Resolution to stop 29 MUSLIM countries KILLING and PERSECUTING CHRISTIANS. [Afghanistan Algeria, Azerbaijan,Bangladesh, Brunei, Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Mali,Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Yeman]
Councilwoman L. NEMETH did not pass a Resolution to stop MUSLIM Countries from continuing SLAVERY of BLACKS. [Saudi Arabia 740,000 Slaves; Iraq 221000 Slaves; Yemen 180,000 Slaves; Syria 153,000; UAE 132,000; Jordan 102,000; Kuwait 55,000; Lebanon 52,000; Oman 33,000; Qatar 20,000]
Neither WHITE Councilwoman APRIL RICHER nor DEBRA HACKETT passed a Resolution to stop the MUSLIM INVASION of CHRISTIAN ARMENIA causing over 30,000 CHRISTIAN DEATHS and injuries along with the DISPLACEMENT of over 120,000 CHRISTIANS.
Neither WHITE Councilman FERGUS CULLEN nor WHITE Councilman ROBERT WARACH passed a Resolution to stop the kidnapping, rape of Christian girls,forced conversion to Islamic religion, and forced marriage to PEDOPHILE MUSLIM men in Pakistan.
By Their Silence the City of DOVER, NEW HAMPSHIRE is COMPLICIT, in the MUSLIM KILLING, of BLACKS, CHRISTIANS, JEWS and SUPPORT the MUSLIM INVASION of America.
“DOVER, NEW HAMPSHIRE Passed a RESOLUTION to stop Jews from defending against a MUSLIM INVASION of Israel.”
Muslim invasion of Israel? Are you referring to the genocidal reaction by the apartheid state of Israel to the atrocities carried out by Hamas on Oct 7th?
Israel is an apartheid state currently occupying the West Bank and Gaza. The Palestinians have a right to resist an apartheid state and an occupation although they do not have a right to commit atrocities in the process. Just like the U.S. had the right to revolt against the tyranny of the British crown, but didn’t have the right to commit atrocities in the process.
No, I was talking about the silence when Muslims kill over 80,000 BLACKS in Nigeria.
No, I was talking about the silence when Muslims kill over 45,000 CHRISTIANS in Nigeria.
No, I was talking about the silence in ignoring 20 MUSLIM countries at WAR against ISRAEL, since1948 after the U N created the state of Israel.
No I Was talking about the silence to stop 29 MUSLIM countries from KILLING and PERSECUTING CHRISTIANS world wide
No I was talking bout the Muslim invasion of Armenia and the mass killing of Christians by Muslims
No I was talking about how Muslims still deal in black slaves.
No I was talking about the Muslims kidnapping, rape of Christian girls,forced conversion to Islamic religion, and forced marriage to PEDOPHILE MUSLIM men in Pakistan.
By your Silence Jeffrey you are COMPLICIT, in the MUSLIM KILLING, of BLACKS, CHRISTIANS, JEWS and SUPPORT the MUSLIM INVASION of America.
And that was what I was talking about.
Is the United States government taking billions of dollars from tax payers to fund that stuff and diplomatically supporting it?
And why do you think I’ve been silent about any of it? Have you been listening to me?
I absolutely oppose the US government providing financial aid or weapons to theocracies, which include Islamic theocracies. I am not Christian, Jewish, or Muslim. You sound like a raving lunatic.
As for countries at war with Israel. Israel is an apartheid state formed through ethnic cleansing. That the UN made an offer to unjustly partition the territory along ethnic and religious lines and give a majority of the land to a colonialist minority has no bearing on the justice of it. The UN’s position was immoral. The UN isn’t holy. It reflected the bigotries of the factions that voted for it. Besides the offer was rightly rejected by Palestinians.
The Palestinians have a right to resist the apartheid state that is oppressing them and that carried out an ethnic cleansing to establish its dominion and they have the right to query for aid from external parties to help in their resistance. Just as the U.S. had the right to query for assistance from France in its revolution against Britain. And like France, any external assistance for Palestinians are also bound not to commit atrocities.
The U.S. should establish no less sanctions upon Israel than it did on South Africa for its apartheid. It should not be financially or militarily supporting Israel. It is immoral. If the U.S. can sanction a majority Christian country for apartheid, South Africa, there should be no problems sanctioning a majority Jewish country, Israel. Do you think Jews should have the right to rule a state which gives special rights to Jews that it does not give to non Jews and gain financial and military support from the U.S? I don’t. It’s unAmerican. And immoral. It’s a disgrace to the spirit of the Fourth of July.
The US support for liberty, not only for its own citizens, but for people around the world, is unfortunately abysmal as things stand today. If the US wishes to live up to its lofty ideals of resistance against tyranny, it must not act as a tyrant itself. The Israeli apartheid and the ongoing genocide of Palestinians in Gaza is an abominable stain on the legacy of liberty for the U.S. However as you point out, Americans have been struggling among one another in the fight for liberty. Just as the U.S. was founded by slavers, it was also founded by abolitionists. The war for liberty was not won on July 4 and it has yet to be won today. Likewise, just as the U.S. government funds and arms an apartheid and genocide, millions of citizens oppose and reject it. Maybe Americans will be able to wrest control of U.S. foreign policy from Zionists just as Americans took control away from the slavers. I am hopeful. Likewise the funding of the Ukraine government as it forces its citizens to die and get maimed in a futile war for a deeply corrupt government is likewise an abominable stain. More Americans must begin to see that what the U.S. government supports abroad is no less important than what it does domestically.