A Cold Man’s Warm Words
by PubliusPeggy Noonan in the Wall Street Journal:
What followed was a list of grievances that made the case for separation from the mother country, and this part was fiery. Jefferson was a cold man who wrote with great feeling. He trained his eyes on the depredations of King George III: “He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns. . . . He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compete the work of death, desolation and tyranny . . .”
Members of the Congress read and reread, and the cutting commenced. Sometimes they cooled Jefferson down. He wrote that the king “suffered the administration of justice totally to cease in some of these states.” They made it simpler: “He has obstructed the Administration of Justice.”
“For Thomas Jefferson it became a painful ordeal, as change after change was called for and approximately a quarter of what he had written was cut entirely.” I quote from the historian David McCullough’s “John Adams,” as I did last year at this time, because everything’s there.
Jefferson looked on in silence. Mr. McCullough notes that there is no record that he uttered a word in protest or in defense of what he’d written. Benjamin Franklin, sitting nearby, comforted him: Edits often reduce things to their essence, don’t fret. It was similar to the wisdom Scott Fitzgerald shared with the promising young novelist Thomas Wolfe 150 years later: Writers bleed over every cut, but at the end they don’t miss what was removed, don’t worry.
“Of more than eighty changes in Jefferson’s draft during the time Congress deliberated, most were minor and served to improve it,” writes Mr. McCullough. But one cut near the end was substantial, and its removal wounded Jefferson, who was right to be wounded, for some of those words should have stayed.
Jefferson had, in his bill of particulars against the king, taken a moment to incriminate the English people themselves—”our British brethren”—for allowing their king and Parliament to send over to America not only “soldiers of our own blood” but “foreign Mercenaries to invade and destroy us.” This, he said, was at the heart of the tragedy of separation. “These facts have given the last stab to agonizing affection, and manly spirit bids us renounce forever” our old friends and brothers. “We must endeavor to forget our former love for them.”
Well. Talk of love was a little much for the delegates. Love was not on their mind. The entire section was removed.
And so were the words that came next. But they should not have been, for they are the tenderest words.
Poignantly, with a plaintive sound, Jefferson addresses and gives voice to the human pain of parting: “We might have been a free and great people together.”
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34 Comments
“We might have been a free and great people together.” But, we are not. Some day in the future the people may awaken and reclaim their country. If they watch and can learn we will once again show them how in the coming months. The choice is ours and now. The choice can be theirs if they want it.
Mr.President, remember your oath. You took this oath as a pledge, and promise too we the people. You might want to go back and read your oath. We know your cabinet does not read bills before commenting on them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjHTAM7Zi1s&fe...
http://www.teapartyexpress.tv/
"When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty." (Thomas Jefferson)
We the Citizen Taxpayers need to have the "laser focus" on making sure the government is not only in fear of US but is VERY MUCH in FEAR!
From the inception of the current "Triumvirate" (Obama/Reid/Pelosi) we have been moving further into the shadows and need to gain more ground. It is time for US Citizens who WANT THEIR FREEDOM to come forth BODLY and rip the chains, from around our necks that are strangling our country to death.
Our future depends on it! The rally cry may become REMEMBER NOVEMBER 2010!!!
Sad that what they have done is being destroyed today. I think they would look down on us ALL for what we have done to their sacrifices. Jefferson would probably ask how is it we traded one King for 535 others along with all these massive taxes??? Whats wrong with all of you!?
Fundamentally Transforming the United States of America… is More Like… Systematically Destroying the United States of America
Yes, BHO is the focus point but what’s happening is because it is HIS policies that are being pushed through. Like a captain of a ship, or a CEO of a company the final level of blame or responsibility lies with them. They can either stop things or enable them; Congress passes a bill the President can veto or sign it. That being said everything that is happening to this country NOW, since the day he took office is HIS. This is HIS “Show” regardless of the attempts of the administration, congress, main stream media and special interest groups pointing the finger of blame at everyone but themselves. HISTORY will not remember what the components of this mess said. HISTORY will record and remember these trying controversial times as HIS, BHOs. History does not go back and look at what this Senator or that Senator did during the Reagan, Carter, Johnson, FDR etc years. HISTORY records them as the Reagan, Carter Johnson, FDR etc years.
This fundamental transformation he promised, where we see things playing out day after day, is more like a systematic destruction. (*note there is way too much material to put in one vid) Let’s be clear it’s not just about him, it is all of them, but HE represents our government during this time period. He, like a captain or CEO, represents all of them and truly has the final say. History will not remember what Keith Olbermann cried out about, the tingling Chris Matthews got up his leg when he listened to BHO speak or the countless acts of bribery (they call it lobbying) we see in government (and the list of “charges” can go on and on). History will remember what this government and president have done to this great nation as a whole. What HE does directly or indirectly via Congress (who carries out his agenda) defines us, our times. http://savingtherepublic.com/FndmtlTrsn2SysDstrcn...
I would say by looking around this country, there will be no question too what patriots will think, and vote for this November.
http://remembernovember.com/
“He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns. . . . He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compete the work of death, desolation and tyranny . . .”
I read that sentence and it resonated in my brain that we are experiencing the same today. SEIU, brown shirts, gulf disaster, FEMA's secret orders, terrorsts amongst us, taxes we will not be able to pay, AZ being demolished by illegals, corruption in DC and this Hussein just golfs and parties while his minions do his dirty work. Sounds like typical "Kingly" behavior.
Revolution 2010 in how many days? Are we ready?
The war of 1812, was a battle for freedom from invaders here in our own country. History always has the answers we seek. We have been here before.
According to the notes of Dr. James McHenry, one of Maryland’s delegates to the Constitutional Convention of 1787, when Benjamin Franklin was leaving Independence Hall on the final day of deliberation he was asked, “Well Doctor, what have we got—a Republic or a Monarchy?” Franklin replied, “A Republic, if you can keep it."
Will WE be able to keep it?
We'll have a good idea next November.
Thomas Jefferson continues to be quoted and to inspire Americans. The present Administration, temporarily occupying "The People's House" will never understand or carry out the concepts of Freedom that Thomas Jefferson gave America.
"When the people fear their government, there is tyranny, when the government fears the people there is liberty" Thomas Jefferson
"That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, FREE AND INDEPENDENT STATES; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British crown and that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved; and that, as free and independent states, they have full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and do all other things which independent states may of right do "
-Thomas Jefferson
Don't waste your breath. The Communist in Chief has absolutely zero interest in defending the Constitution of the United States. As a military veteran, I too swore to defend the Constitution from ALL enemies, both foreign AND domestic, the only difference between me and BO is I honored my pledge, he didn't and never will.
Wally Pieper
311 N River Rd
McHenry, Illinois 60051
623 695 4654
wally@wallypieper.ws
This day and age, Jefferson would be put in jail or worse for writing such thoughts down!
Which is no different from that day and age the people who signed the Declaration of Independence were committing treason against the British crown. They would have been executed if captured by the British.
DEPENDENCE BEGETS SERVITUDE
When I want to know about what our founders, believed and thought. I look at the Federalist papers for insight, and clarity.
http://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/federal...
Restore the Republic,
http://www.teapartyexpress.tv/
More likely he would join us here.
He would agree with the vigorous exercise of our First Amendment rights in this forum as we express our love of liberty and hatred for oppression.
When you read about ethical, moral, thoughtful people like our Founders, it makes you wonder how we wound up with O'marxist, Pelosi,Reid,the Clintons, Lieberman,Lindsay Graham, McCain, Axelrod,Holder, Jarrett, Rham, Kagan, et al.
I'd be looking forward to Nov. more if someone would remove all the Illegally Registered voters that ACORN still has Registered! Then we'd never have to hear the word "Comprehensive or Reform" again! Let's get an administration that actually represents the people.
I really enjoyed this article. Very interesting read.
I have been thinking of words of love all day. I have been to the verge ot tears several times today.
I love my country.
I love America.
Hear, hear
I hear the beating of my countries heart it is muffled neath layers of self doubt but it beats strong. It is the rythm of the drum line advancing on the enemies position the pipers piping the advance. Fear nothing for we are already the victors. Our honor is restored in our resistance and with honor we will march through the phlacid lines of our souless enemies. We see the world in bold colors, in glory and triumph while they see the world in sepia tones and speak of the commonness of man. I know no common man I only know heroes and cowards. I will march with my brave fellow travelers, the men and women of vision who have wrought greatness from this land. Let them sleep with the cowards and find their poor comforts their. I will bask in the light of liberty and cast my cold shadow upon them.
Thank you for service, sir. I am humbled by your sacrifice. We would not be free without the dedication of you and your brothers. However, your services are still needed to help defend us from a domestic enemy. Keep holding the torch and, together, let's build it into an all-encompassing wildfire this November. IT CAN BE DONE.
When Peggy Noonan isn't a shill, she writes some immaculate words.
The Oath Dishonored
In 1956 and 1960, I raised my right hand, standing before the American flag and swore to defend the United States Constitution against ALL enemies both foreign and domestic.On January 20 of 2009, I watched as Barak Obama took that very same oath. At the time of my oath, the widely accepted enemy was the communist regime of the USSR and China. When the Berlin wall fell, the Communist empire was crumbling as well. What did not fall was the communist philosophy, which today is alive and well only operating in a more refined manner. That philosophy of anticapitalism and sharing the wealth is the foundation that Marx and Lenin espoused in the Communist manifesto and has just as devoted a following today in a group of radicals who openly brag about their Communist beliefs and connection to that outrageous philosophy.
What is the most troubling to me and every other real American I know is that many of the aforementioned group who openly support and believe in that crap are Advisors (Czars)to Barak Obama.
The following names represent a few of the Czars who serve the President totally immune from Congressional review or oversight, answerable only to Mr Obama. Cass Sunstein, John Holdren, Van Jones, Carol Browner, Mark Lloyd et al. Confirmation of their Communist affiliation and/or beliefs in their own words, either written or spoken, is available by merely doing a basic Google search.
Mr Obama, you stated many times during the campaign in speeches and debates.”If you want to know who I am, look to the people who I surround myself with”. Well Mr Obama, that is exactly what I’m doing, and I see socialists, Marxists, Communists, homosexuals, anti-capitalists who along with you plan on “Fundamentally transforming the United States of America”. Therefore, the conclusion, the only conclusion, I can draw is at best you are a very far left liberal, or at worse, a Communist masquerading as a Democratic President of the United States.
Mr Obama, you have dishonored millions upon millions of men and women, living and deceased, who honorably served this country since the Revolution, by trampling on the oath we all took, by surrounding yourself with self-avowed socialists, Marxists, Communists, homosexuals, et al.
Never before in the history of this country has a President behaved with such complete and utter contempt and disdain for the Constitution you and I each swore to defend.
You disgust me and all legitimate Americans!
Wally Pieper
311 N River Rd
McHenry, Illinois 60051
623 695 4654
wally@wallypieper.ws
Sorry but history is not on our side. Great countries can and have committed political suicide. We are probably just the most recent one. I am ready but few others are.
“We might have been a free and great people together.”
Sometimes an estrangement can be a prelude to a, "special relationship."
No?
[...] » A Cold Man’s Warm Words – Big Government [...]
When those men voted to break with the crown, they put their lives on the line, literally. Had we lost, they almost certainly would have been hanged.
In taking that action on behalf of the country, they set a high bar for public service in the highest offices, a bar that requires self-sacrifice for the good of the WHOLE country, and not just political plunder for a favored few or a favored constituency.
Harry Truman demonstrated how that should be done when he issued executive orders desegregating the military, going against what I think was a majority in his party and probably the entire country. He did it because it was the right thing to do for the good of the WHOLE country.
If past is prologue, then the records of those who presume to occupy the Presidency are not only valid subjects for minute dissection and analysis, they should be REQUIRED subjects for minute dissection and analysis. If material inconsistencies arise, the Fourth Estate has a moral obligation to get to the bottom of the matter to ensure that the character of the candidates is what we think we're buying.
Those who win that office have a sacred and moral obligation to do politically what they presume to order the lowliest private to do literally, put their lives and futures on the line to do the right thing for the country in honoring the same oath each private takes, "To protect and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic."
It is high time we reset that bar where our founders did, putting their lives and futures on the line. The Presidency is a sacred obligation and should be treated as such by everyone involved in selecting the person to occupy that office.
A most excellent post Professor!
I could not agree more with your conclusion.
Character COUNTS!
Amen!
My pastor is a retired 1 star chaplain from the National guard. Yesterday he had us all kneel (which we normally do not do) in humility and pray asking the Lord to save our Country.
Te is not political at all, and moderate at best when he does mention politics. the fact he was so moved spoke to me of the dept of pain this nation is reeling from due to ObaMao and his evil machinations.
I had tears in my eyes more than once yesterday…
Thanks. Character does, indeed, count.
we wound up with them because we got lazy and allowed it – we broke it, now we get to pay for it while we fix it. November is only the start – but it will be a good beginning.
Noonan has a talent, it is unfortunate she has used it of late to question conservatives and TPM
folks honor, often hinting we are racists. Peggy seems to be suffering from Beltway Buffoonery,
in that assessment, although her words flow beautifully, don't they? I've come to view her incon-
sistent opinions as meaningless hormone ravaged tripe. Ms Noonan, please refrain from sub-
jecting us to your multiple 'mood-swings'. Leave us remember you when you were at your best..
From a Former Fan
She's lately been coming back on board, but she has been a part of the Bill Kristol school of bashing real conservatives, not the fake ones in the magazines. I hope she changes her ways.
[...] » A Cold Man’s Warm Words – Big GovernmentAnd so were the words that came next. But they should not have been, for they are the tenderest words. … "When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty." (Thomas Jefferson) [...]
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