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Our Founding Fathers On Liberty and Tyranny
To me this is what the Fourth of July is all about. Remembering the men who sacrificed all they had to take the journey to a more perfect union... a free union. We don't truly have that today, and the main reason why is because we as a people have to really want it. I question now if we really do, and that is sad. These words of wisdom and warning from men who though flawed were brilliant and who knew something themselves about slavery of the mind and soul are words to be reflected on. As John Adams said, "Liberty once lost, is lost forever." We as a people are allowing liberty to slip away as we distract ourselves and lose our focus on these words. How I wish we had men of such courage and brilliance as these to once again point us in the right direction. However, their words can be the inspiration we need to now do that. The question is: will we?
To me this is what the Fourth of July is all about. Remembering the men who sacrificed all they had to take the journey to a more perf... more -
The Election of 1800: Adams/Jefferson
Can you imagine what this campaign would have looked like on tv? I thought this was a cute illustration. Though we know that Alexander Hamilton was behind trashing both Adams and Jefferson, his preference was for Adams even though they disagreed about war with France. Personally, if I could vote and lived in that time period, my vote would have been solidly with Jefferson. Sigh if only... someone to vote FOR. Can you imagine what this campaign would have looked like on tv? I thought this was a cute illustration. Though we know that Alexander... more
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Thomas Jefferson's Anarchist Sentiment
From the HBO Miniseries, John Adams. John Adams (Paul Giamatti,) Ben Franklin (Tom Wilkinson,) and Thomas Jefferson (Steven Dillane,) discuss the Constitution. Jefferson's sentiments are truly those of a freethinker. Which is why I have always loved his writings and agree wholeheartedly with his sentiments. Which is more than likely why the Constitution is open ended in that it gives the American people the opportunity to change their form of government if it should not suit the needs of the people or turn towards tyranny... that is, if they are not too distracted or fearful to notice. From the HBO Miniseries, John Adams. John Adams (Paul Giamatti,) Ben Franklin (Tom Wilkinson,) and Thomas Jefferson (Steven Dillane,) ... more
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Why can't Americans stand up like our Founders did?
Where has that spirit of liberty gone? Where has the sustained fire and passion for Democracy gone? In this clip from HBO's magnificent miniseries John Adams, the president of the Continental Congress reads off King George III 's letter of disdain to the members calling them traitors and vowing to have them hanged for disserting their allegiance to the crown. Yet, did they cower? No, they stood up to the first King George, stared him down, and beat his empire with a passionate group of farmers, doctors and the like. Citizens just like you and me who stood up and gave their lives and all they had because this country and freedom were more important than the fear and apprehension of the future and the feigned stature of a King.
Yet today, we sit and cower waiting for a subservient Congress to do what it will never do in upholding its oath... Impeach the second King George with the same spirit that birthed this nation. We wait for them to stand up and face down the same threats and usurpations that brought these Founding Fathers to Philadelphia and dare to call ourselves free while allowing it to continue. I watch clips like this and weep for what we have become. Fearful, distracted, comfortable enablers who talk about the crimes and misdemeanors of these people but who don't on the whole seem to have the guts to do what is necessary to preserve the Declaration of Independence these men put everything they had on the line to sign.
And now, our elections are nothing more than popularity contests wrapped up in dollar bills. Words, promises, platitudes and jockeying to be the "most powerful" ruler in the world, when what we originally set out to do was to be a free country that was benevolent to all, not a money hungry empire maker. We have become that which that Declaration spoke out against.
So why is it that we Americans for all of our talk really cannot stand up as our Founders did? Are we on the whole truly too distracted to care? Or is that even a viable excuse anymore?Voting alone will not bring it back. One person will not bring it back. One election will not bring it back. Personally, I would love to see a new Continental Congress meet in Philadelphia to put the ineffective one we have on notice that if they don't do their job we have many here who will. Where has that spirit of liberty gone? Where has the sustained fire and passion for Democracy gone? In this clip from HBO's magnificen... more -
Time For A Revolution? Ask The Founding Fathers
From the fantastic HBO series, 'John Adams.' Inspiring yet sad to see this spirit is now lost in our Congress. It will be up to us to bring it back. We cannot fail these men and women who gave all they had to birth this country. From the fantastic HBO series, 'John Adams.' Inspiring yet sad to see this spirit is now lost in our Congress. It will be up to us to ... more
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The Most Inspirational Musical Score:John Adams
I don't know how many of you are following the John Adams miniseries on HBO. I am and can say without a doubt that it is one of the most well produced, acted, and accurate historical dramas I have ever seen. And the music from it is so inspirational I had to share it because it inspires me and brings me to tears. Many say our Founding Fathers were flawed and they were. However, they were still men of conscience who cared about the law and that no man was above it. Oh, to have such a Congress today. I don't know how many of you are following the John Adams miniseries on HBO. I am and can say without a doubt that it is one of the mo... more
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HBO: John Adams
The life of John Adams and the struggle for American independence are the themes of this magnificent depiction that premiered on HBO last night. I was riveted by it. It is the most authentic production I have ever seen of the time period and the men and women who shaped our country. I highly recommend it to everyone and to have their children watch it with them. It is a seven part miniseries, the first two parts being presented last night to be continued next Sunday.
It was so emotional to watch as well. To see Americans who truly put laws above men and who truly appreciated what it meant to fight for freedom brought me to tears thinking of where our country has gone since then. Where are the Jefferson's, Franklin's, and Adams's, of today?
This program also explores the relationship betrween John and Abigail Adams, which to me was the love story of the Revolutionary period, and also showed that women of that time were just as passionate and involved in this fight as the men.
It was surely fortunate for all of us today that these men and women lived at that particular time. Had they not, it is hard to tell where we would be today.The most wonderful part of this is that you see them not as Gods, but as humans with faults. Humans who through this grand experiment were just as scared as we are today.
While I weep for the future of this country today, after watching this I still have some hope that the spirit that lived in them lives in us just a little bit today. However, I shudder to think what these men would say if they came back and saw what Washington DC has become. I do not believe there is one man or woman in our Congress today who has the spirit and courage of conviction they had.
Question: If there were a new Continental Congress held, would you go as a delegate knowing what you would be sacrificing? I would. The life of John Adams and the struggle for American independence are the themes of this magnificent depiction that premiered on HBO l... more
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John Adams
