Founding Fathers and War

As you know George Washington wasn’t bashful about going to war—even with an army of untrained, unschooled, and even unpaid farmers, merchants, and shopkeepers. And look what he did with the British!

Thomas Jefferson was not known for his willingness to fight. But when the Barbary Pirates continued their demands for payments of ransoms for ships captured in the Mediterranean, Jefferson refused to meet their demands. Instead he sent ships to fight the pirates (think Muslims). He had to request more men and ships to meet the test. read more

James Madison Advises Virtue

James Madison, the Father of the Constitution, wrote a message to the States complete with a dire warning that still holds true today. It’s quite a long sentence and paragraph (I took the liberty of dividing the paragraph in two for easier reading). Nevertheless, I’m going to repeat it here for you:

“The citizens of the United States are responsible for the greatest trust ever confided to a political society. If justice, good faith, honor, gratitude and all the other qualities which ennoble (mark the word, ennoble) the character of a nation and fulfill the ends of government be the fruits of our establishments, the cause of liberty will acquire a dignity and luster, which it has never yet enjoyed, and an example will be set, which cannot but have the most favorable influence on the rights of Mankind. read more

Thoughts on Our Founding Fathers

In light of the debate that continues about the status of health care in the United States, I’ve been considering some of the thoughts of our Founding Fathers. They founded this nation on freedom, self-reliance, and accountability. Those are character traits that were important to them. Now we are considering how everyone can have adequate health care at the cost of the whole citizenry.

In my reading this week I came across an article that was printed around 1950. I found it astonishing in light of our current debates. I thought you might enjoy the feelings of our patriots in the 1950’s. read more

Patrick Henry’s Last Words

PatrickHenryAbout all that anyone knows about Patrick Henry is that some time in history he gave a great speech which included the words: “Give me liberty, or give me death!” And that he did. But he did much more.

He became a lawyer after studying for the bar for only 5 weeks. He spoke the words that caused the flame for independence to burn in the breast of Thomas Jefferson, his close friend. At the end of this speech he declared: “Caesar had his Brutus, Charles the First his Cromwell, . . .and George the Third . . .” read more

Thomas Jefferson’s Speech

President Donald Trump gave a stirring speech last night to a joint session of Congress. Even though he said some things that should be acceptable to any American citizens, he was ignored by the Democrats in Congress, and lambasted by the media. We, as a nation have become so divided by political parties that it is somewhat disconcerting.

ThomasJeffersonI wonder if Thomas Jefferson would have been so dismissed by the opposite party when he spoke to the nation. When he spoke he advocated that any political problems of the past decade be buried in order for Americans to unite. Here is what he said in his inaugural speech: read more

Our Founding Fathers Were Not Bashful

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAWhen things were getting rough in the Colonies, there were a few men who stood up for things they believed in. It started with Patrick Henry in his speech as he was first elected to the house of Burgesses. Thomas Jefferson, his friend, listened in at the door of the Capitol in Williamsburg, as Henry made his speech, from notes written in the flyleaf of Jefferson’s loaned book!

Tom said that a spark for independence was lighted at that event that moved Jefferson to know the Colonies were on the road to independence. read more

A Republic or a Monarchy?

I pledge Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America,
And to the Republic for which it stands,
One nation, Under God, indivisible,
With liberty and justice for ALL.

Founding Fathers coverRepublic—a state in which the supreme power rests in the body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by representatives chosen directly or indirectly by them.

Democracy—government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system. read more

Battle for Independence

Ben Franklin thumb pictureYou may have missed it but the Revolutionary War ended in 1781 at Yorktown, VA. The particulars of that battle were amazing. So was the outcome. British General Cornwallis surrendered his army after the valiant efforts of the Americans and the French.

After the defeat at Yorktown, a friend of Benjamin Franklin approached him and said: “It looks as if the battle for independence is finally over.”

Franklin replied: “Sir, you are mistaken. The Revolutionary War may be over, but the battle for independence has just begun.” read more

Citizens Amend the Constitution

constitutionThere is something I just can’t understand—at all! Yesterday in my blog I gave some little bit of background about our U.S. Constitution. I mentioned that our Constitution has been amended only 17 times since the original Bill of Rights was adopted. Seventeen times since December 15, 1791. That’s more than 225 years.

But two of those amendments came in 1913. What happened in 1913 that allowed those two amendments to be approved? Woodrow Wilson was president and started the “progressive” movement. Which shortly died out for a while, but it’s back now—with a vengeance. Just look, we have our first openly socialist candidate. read more

Thomas Paine Joins the Conflict

thomas paineWhile George Washington was laboring away trying to convince the soldiers under his command to be vigilant and courageous, he was joined in camp by a patriotic writer named Thomas Paine. Paine had written a booklet, “Common Sense”, that gave men more insight into the blessings of freedom and liberty.

“The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything value. I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress and grow brave by reflection.” read more