Exceptional diatribe, Mr. Kust. Yeah, we, Americans are a work-in-progress. Unfortunately the so-called progressive side is quite like the opposite of what progress means. And it's about time to identify the problem; as for what it is. A lost cause...
Flawed men who gave us a creed to live and govern by; and the only successful revolution in history that we can celebrate in freedom 250 years later. I’m grateful for them and my country 🇺🇸
And I agree. We can acknowledge how social mores have shifted, evolved, and sometimes devolved, but we do well to maintain the perspective that we are all as much a product of our times as we are a product of our own choices actions.
What will people think of us 250 years from now, I wonder?
Good article, Peter. A lot of information here that I didn't realize. Thanks for the short history lesson. Linking as usual @https://nothingnewunderthesun2016.com/
There is a modern educational trend today of looking at history in a skewed context. For example, Thomas Jefferson and his wife each inherited slaves, making them the largest slave owners in their county. But Jefferson repeatedly wrote and spoke against slavery, and very much wanted to free them. Modern educators call him a hypocrite. Why didn’t he free his slaves? Because in the gentleman’s code of his day, you couldn’t just set them free - a slave was a valuable commodity, and would be immediately captured by someone else and sold back into slavery. It was like setting a hundred-dollar bill on the sidewalk - of COURSE someone will pick it up! No, a gentlemen was expected to teach his slaves to read and write, teach them a trade - such as tanning or blacksmithing skills - and give them the tools by which they could set themselves up in business. It was the only way to prevent them from becoming sold as slaves once again. This required MONEY, and Jefferson was broke. While he was off writing the founding documents for a new kind of country, his plantation fell deeper into debt. He wasn’t a big hypocrite, he just didn’t have the means to do what he would have preferred to do - just like most of us today.
As for his relationship with Sally, there is considerable historical evidence that he did indeed care for her, and had a meaningful relationship with her. That doesn’t excuse his conduct, but much of the history of the world has been about men being unable to control their sexual desires, isn’t it? As you say, Peter, Jefferson was HUMAN.
Today’s schools need to return to teaching the full picture of history, not just cherry-picking facts to support a political agenda! They need to be more even-handed, like you are, Peter. Thanks for all you do!
So was George Washington. So was John Adams. So are we all.
Society as a whole has long understood that philosophical and moral truths do not arise from our humanity, but in spite of it. Moral truths are necessarily aspirational--they are how we want people to be, not how people are.
The Declaration of Independence is in tone, in language, and in stated intent, wholly aspirational. This was what the Founding Fathers wanted government to become. I believe it is what most people, underneath their various angers and notions of social justice, want government to be today.
That aspiration was true in 1776. That aspiration is true today. No matter what evil the Founding Fathers might have said or did elsewhere, the Declaration of Independence is a true aspiration, and always has been.
Exceptional diatribe, Mr. Kust. Yeah, we, Americans are a work-in-progress. Unfortunately the so-called progressive side is quite like the opposite of what progress means. And it's about time to identify the problem; as for what it is. A lost cause...
Flawed men who gave us a creed to live and govern by; and the only successful revolution in history that we can celebrate in freedom 250 years later. I’m grateful for them and my country 🇺🇸
💯🎇🇺🇸
Exactly so.
They were flawed men, but they were still great men, and what they accomplished was nothing short of miraculous.
Miraculous it was!
We should never evaluate history through the lens of modern sensibilities or morals. Really good piece.
Thanks!
And I agree. We can acknowledge how social mores have shifted, evolved, and sometimes devolved, but we do well to maintain the perspective that we are all as much a product of our times as we are a product of our own choices actions.
What will people think of us 250 years from now, I wonder?
Good article, Peter. A lot of information here that I didn't realize. Thanks for the short history lesson. Linking as usual @https://nothingnewunderthesun2016.com/
https://youtu.be/4VPXEPoXnNw?si=pV3JbbVIPbzB647q
There is a modern educational trend today of looking at history in a skewed context. For example, Thomas Jefferson and his wife each inherited slaves, making them the largest slave owners in their county. But Jefferson repeatedly wrote and spoke against slavery, and very much wanted to free them. Modern educators call him a hypocrite. Why didn’t he free his slaves? Because in the gentleman’s code of his day, you couldn’t just set them free - a slave was a valuable commodity, and would be immediately captured by someone else and sold back into slavery. It was like setting a hundred-dollar bill on the sidewalk - of COURSE someone will pick it up! No, a gentlemen was expected to teach his slaves to read and write, teach them a trade - such as tanning or blacksmithing skills - and give them the tools by which they could set themselves up in business. It was the only way to prevent them from becoming sold as slaves once again. This required MONEY, and Jefferson was broke. While he was off writing the founding documents for a new kind of country, his plantation fell deeper into debt. He wasn’t a big hypocrite, he just didn’t have the means to do what he would have preferred to do - just like most of us today.
As for his relationship with Sally, there is considerable historical evidence that he did indeed care for her, and had a meaningful relationship with her. That doesn’t excuse his conduct, but much of the history of the world has been about men being unable to control their sexual desires, isn’t it? As you say, Peter, Jefferson was HUMAN.
Today’s schools need to return to teaching the full picture of history, not just cherry-picking facts to support a political agenda! They need to be more even-handed, like you are, Peter. Thanks for all you do!
Happy 250th Birthday to all Americans!
Thomas Jefferson was indeed human.
So was George Washington. So was John Adams. So are we all.
Society as a whole has long understood that philosophical and moral truths do not arise from our humanity, but in spite of it. Moral truths are necessarily aspirational--they are how we want people to be, not how people are.
The Declaration of Independence is in tone, in language, and in stated intent, wholly aspirational. This was what the Founding Fathers wanted government to become. I believe it is what most people, underneath their various angers and notions of social justice, want government to be today.
That aspiration was true in 1776. That aspiration is true today. No matter what evil the Founding Fathers might have said or did elsewhere, the Declaration of Independence is a true aspiration, and always has been.
To all Americans, Happy Independence Day!
A Saint understands the vices of a Sinner as a Sinner understands the virtue of a Saint.
The Founders understood the virtues of Liberty as only those living in Tyranny can.