" What do we mean by the Revolution? The war? That was no part of the revolution; it was only an effect and consequence of it. The revolution was in the minds of the people, and this was effected from 1760–1775, in the course of fifteen years, before a drop of blood was shed at Lexington." John Adams Letter to Thomas Jefferson (24 August 1815)
"If you tell the Legislatures they have violated the treaty of peace and invaded the prerogatives of the confederacy they will laugh in your face. What then is to be done? Things cannot go on in the same train forever. It is much to be feared, as you observe, that the better kind of people being disgusted with the circumstances will have their minds prepared for any revolution whatever." George Washington Letter to John Jay (15 August 1786)
The events at the capitol in Wisconsin has been going on for 25 days now. Time and again Governor Walker and his Republican led congress have broke the law while trying to push through legislation. They have ignored the voices of their constituents to pass into law something the people do not support.
I will forgo rehashing the events that everyone is aware of. I will however ask what's next? The protesters have been totally above reproach and have been splendid representatives of their fellow Wisconsin citizens. Not one fist raised in anger, not one act of violence against the government. As I type this, the legislature at the Capitol is arguing the bill.
Despite the best efforts of the protesters, the court and the Democratic legislators, the bill will pass into... illegally. How is it that our system is so broke that the laws an be ignored?
Democracy does matter. Destroying the rights of the people is a deadly serious business. The state of Wisconsin stands divided, people are no longer simply Americans, but on opposite sides of a line in the sand. All they have to do is look in the history books. This is NOT the first time in American history this has happened. There was another time when peaceful protests grew into something much larger, something that changed the course of this country. Their was a line in the sand then as well, citizens of the colonies on one side, the British govt on the other.
It first started in 1733 when the British Govt passed laws against citizens of the colonies and taxed them w/o representation. Take time to research the Navigation Acts, Molasses Act and Royal Proclamation of 1763 legislations. Follow that up with the Townsend act and the Tea Act. Then the Quebec act and the Intolerable Acts. Everyone of these acts was unfair to the citizens of the colonies. Their voice was not being heard...
The First Continental Congress in 1774 disbanded with the hope that within the appeal process of the British govt that a solution could be found. The founding fathers of America tried like the protesters in Wisconsin to be civil and open a dialog with the King. It failed, and we all know what happened next. 4000 souls between 117 and 1781 gave their lives to give us our rights. Those rights are defunct now, tossed out with the trash at the whim of our Representatives.
The Founding Fathers were strong advocates of republican values, which required men to put civic duty ahead of their personal desires. Men had a civic duty to be prepared and willing to fight for the rights and liberties of their countrymen and countrywomen. Have these values changed that much?
My question to you is ... Did the "founding fathers" do the right thing by starting the American Revolution? Your answer may surprise you.
"If you tell the Legislatures they have violated the treaty of peace and invaded the prerogatives of the confederacy they will laugh in your face. What then is to be done? Things cannot go on in the same train forever. It is much to be feared, as you observe, that the better kind of people being disgusted with the circumstances will have their minds prepared for any revolution whatever." George Washington Letter to John Jay (15 August 1786)
The events at the capitol in Wisconsin has been going on for 25 days now. Time and again Governor Walker and his Republican led congress have broke the law while trying to push through legislation. They have ignored the voices of their constituents to pass into law something the people do not support.
I will forgo rehashing the events that everyone is aware of. I will however ask what's next? The protesters have been totally above reproach and have been splendid representatives of their fellow Wisconsin citizens. Not one fist raised in anger, not one act of violence against the government. As I type this, the legislature at the Capitol is arguing the bill.
Despite the best efforts of the protesters, the court and the Democratic legislators, the bill will pass into... illegally. How is it that our system is so broke that the laws an be ignored?
Democracy does matter. Destroying the rights of the people is a deadly serious business. The state of Wisconsin stands divided, people are no longer simply Americans, but on opposite sides of a line in the sand. All they have to do is look in the history books. This is NOT the first time in American history this has happened. There was another time when peaceful protests grew into something much larger, something that changed the course of this country. Their was a line in the sand then as well, citizens of the colonies on one side, the British govt on the other.
It first started in 1733 when the British Govt passed laws against citizens of the colonies and taxed them w/o representation. Take time to research the Navigation Acts, Molasses Act and Royal Proclamation of 1763 legislations. Follow that up with the Townsend act and the Tea Act. Then the Quebec act and the Intolerable Acts. Everyone of these acts was unfair to the citizens of the colonies. Their voice was not being heard...
The First Continental Congress in 1774 disbanded with the hope that within the appeal process of the British govt that a solution could be found. The founding fathers of America tried like the protesters in Wisconsin to be civil and open a dialog with the King. It failed, and we all know what happened next. 4000 souls between 117 and 1781 gave their lives to give us our rights. Those rights are defunct now, tossed out with the trash at the whim of our Representatives.
The Founding Fathers were strong advocates of republican values, which required men to put civic duty ahead of their personal desires. Men had a civic duty to be prepared and willing to fight for the rights and liberties of their countrymen and countrywomen. Have these values changed that much?
My question to you is ... Did the "founding fathers" do the right thing by starting the American Revolution? Your answer may surprise you.
Thank you. Much to digest, but I clearly see your point. Without discussions, we have no freedoms whatever, at all. John Rickard, Balt., MD
ReplyDeleteI am @jrbaltmd57 on @Twitter
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