July 04, 2004
1776
The introduction to Tom Paine's Common Sense: "The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind":
Thomas Paine: Perhaps the sentiments contained in the following pages, are not yet sufficiently fashionable to procure them general favor; a long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defence of custom. But the tumult soon subsides. Time makes more converts than reason.
As a long and violent abuse of power, is generally the Means of calling the right of it in question (and in matters too which might never have been thought of, had not the Sufferers been aggravated into the inquiry) and as the King of England had undertaken in his own Right, to support the Parliament in what he calls Theirs, and as the good people of this country are grievously oppressed by the combination, they have an undoubted privilege to inquire into the pretensions of both, and equally to reject the usurpation of either.
In the following sheets, the author hath studiously avoided every thing which is personal among ourselves. Compliments as well as censure to individuals make no part thereof. The wise, and the worthy, need not the triumph of a pamphlet; and those whose sentiments are injudicious, or unfriendly, will cease of themselves unless too much pains are bestowed upon their conversion.
The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind. Many circumstances hath, and will arise, which are not local, but universal, and through which the principles of all Lovers of Mankind are affected, and in the Event of which, their Affections are interested...
"...they have an undoubted privilege to inquire into the pretensions of both, and equally to reject the usurpation of either.."
'Twas a privilege then; since the formation of this democratic republic, it has become our duty.
Posted by: Bean on July 4, 2004 08:29 AMIs George W. Bush George IV or George V? He definitely seems like a successor of George III, whereas his father doesn't really. But maybe George H.W. Bish should be counted just for a nice complete series.
Note that Godwin was not mentioned at all.
Posted by: zizka / John Emerson on July 4, 2004 08:30 AMOur country is a great country, founded by freethinkers. Our country has never been perfect, but its normal course has usually been headed in the direction of progress. However, for at least the last 4 years, and arguably the last 25, our great country has been hijacked by a self-interested, dishonest, and greed-driven minority.
We need to take our country back from them.
Posted by: The Wild-Eyed Fool on July 4, 2004 09:05 AMI thought the George numbering started over in 1789. Current George is the third one we've had since then. Appropriate.
Posted by: lightning on July 4, 2004 09:49 AMThat would make Dubya George VI. You can't have two George I's, can you?
Posted by: zizka / John Emerson on July 4, 2004 09:55 AMTribute to King George the Vth
==============================
Your Highness, you are our Hero!
Where else but in America, can a
cretinous tid like Your Eminence,
with your dysphasic social values,
your paleolithic political views,
and your kleptomaniacal economics,
bring to ruin the greatest country
in the history of Whitey, reducing
America the Beautiful to a bankrupt,
despotic 3rd-world Banana Republic?
Such viagrity! America - Banana Republic®!
And You achieved it in a mere four years!
You are, Noble Sire, a real tribute to
the penultimate power of Man, and proof
that under the blue vault of God's sky,
in America, anything is indeed possible,
no matter what the Bible has to say about
faith, charity and true brotherly love.
You have shattered the vault of the sky,
and have given US all faith that any man,
however highly born and dolicocephalic,
may someday become ruler of our planet!
We salute You! All Hail Ceasar!
Vivo Demi-Deus Maximus!!
Doesn't the "Don't Tread on Me" flag conflict with the Democratic Socialism espoused here? I think Hillary has updated it to "We Will Tread on You"
Happy 4th!
Posted by: Gadsden on July 4, 2004 02:11 PMInteresting the extent to which Hillary carries the can of rightwing ire. She's not someone I've ever supported much. But lately, taking note of the nature and content of her detractors' complaints, I've begun to really admire her. They have become very, very useful foils. Hope they keep on keeping on!
Posted by: Bean on July 4, 2004 02:59 PMEvery 4th, I dutifully read the Declaration, and over the years, it's gotten less satisfying. The prose is wonderful -- I can't see how to improve it by changing a single word. But it isn't a good statement of the reasons. For that, Paine probably comes closer to stating what was on their minds at the time.
Gadsden, didn't you forget to mention Clinton's penis?
Hillary is much like Bill -- her enemies are the best thing about her.
Posted by: zizka / John Emerson on July 4, 2004 04:18 PMAh freedom. Remember, those who fought for our nation's independence lived and died for freedom. What freedom means to me is that you're free to do anything that government allows you to do. (And if you want to do something that government doesn't wish to allow you to do, why, you must be a terrorist, and we shall take your land and properties, burn down your home, kill your wife and children, and put you to work as a slave for Prison Industries... for details, click on my name below).
Yours in celebrating freedom,
John Asscroft, Attorney General, Untied States of America
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