I am amazed and stunned at the striking similarities between the Patriots vision of our young country in the 1700's and the awaking Patriots of today. Patriots are gathering speechless and agast at the daily onslaughts against the Constitution. Is it possible that a few can dictate to the many? Is it true that a few can "rewrite" the very Constitution that formed their freedoms and liberties to tear it apart? I ask myself as did Abigail Adams (p21) do we "have too many high sounding words, and too few actions that correspond with them?"
As i type this blog, i just heard that the Senate voted to pass the Obama Health Care Plan. A Plan that was passed against the voice of the majority of American people. I watched on T.V. of the protestors gathered at the White House who are against this plan, i heard on the news Saturday, March 20th, of people in Alaska calling meetings to gather up their arms in preparation of standing in defense of their freedoms, there are Tea Parties from coast to coast, there is talk of a Sugar Tax on soft drinks. What is happening in and to our country? To our Constitution? Are we headed for another revolution?
Abigail again writes to her Dearest friend from the kichen table (p21), "You cannot be, I know, nor do I wish to see you, an inactive spectator." We also must not now be inactive spectators, we must rise to the occassion, preserve our freedoms and liberties, and ensure that they will be passed on to the next generation.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Wow, you pegged it! I also have been following all of the current events and have a deep concern about where all of this is heading. Can it really be possible that our leaders either have so little knowledge about the constitution, or that they care so little about it?
ReplyDeleteAs I have been reading the book I too have been amazed that everything was just as political back then as it is today. I was thinking about when "Hamilton quietly worked through the winter to convince leading politicians in several states to withhold votes from Adams" so that Adams "did not wind up with such a strong showing in the electoral count as to embarrass Washington."
ReplyDeleteThen later on when Adams asked Madison to go to France, Madison declined. Adams had imagined "he might steer impartially between the parties." Adams then realized that neither Jefferson nor Madison "had the least desire to work with the administration, and thus he could expect no help from any of the Republicans."
Doesn't that sound just like the health care issue, working quietly through the night to insure votes and not crossing party lines?
I have also been following the healthcare bill (now law) with great concern and despair. This bill sounds more to me like the takeover in Germany and Austria during the 1930's and 1940's. But I feel optomistic that the American's are waking up a lot earlier than our friends in Europe did. To compare it to the times of the revolutionary war, I thought of the division in the country of what we should do. Many were for the English, and even went so far to fight for them, many just wanted to go through life without worrying about what went on in the fight, and then there were the patriots who fought, knowing that if they were caught, they could be hung as traders. There conviction to the cause of freedom was so great, that they were willing to take that chance. I am interested to see how the citizen now are willing to fight for the freedoms that they believe in.
ReplyDeleteThis provides us as teachers an excellent opportunity to help students understand that history does tend to repeat itself. The politics of long ago are applicable to our lives today as we are constantly being asked to make decisions that are similar to say the least to the same issues over 200 years ago. Students can see and learn that unless something is done to change what is going on the future will be very similar to what we have now.
ReplyDeleteI think you are all on the right track. Not everyone in 1774-1775 were ready to break ties with England. In fact, many historians believe that about one-third were true "Patriots." But it took a Congress that wasn't afraid to step and "get it done". It took leadership to do the "right" thing. Was it popular? Was everyone excited? No. But with a little backroom dealing, the vote finally came out 12-0 with one no vote.
ReplyDeleteLook at us today. We are pretty happy with what happened. Only time will tell on this last vote. Only time will tell.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI found it very interesting with the analogies of the past and today's society. The book has taught me to be patient and slowly move towards freedom. I think the constitution is true and inspired. I believe it is very important to preserve it and fight for it. However, in our days things have changed; the society today is well educated, opinionated and very aware of what is going on. Is it true to say that is harder to run the country with such different society in our days? Or it would be appropriate to say that we feel so good in our days to compare ourselves to one society that was oppressed by a Monarchy. How could we ponder with the eyes in the history when we are invaded by the media and criticism of so many different media professionals? Is that the way to react using our past? Revolutionists from the past were not well seen and I do not believe in our days it will be different especially against our own government. I do not want to push buttons here but, I keep pondering to all this changes we’ve watched in our days. How to make better use of the past and with peace show a better understanding without being watched as a revolutionist by so many different groups, political parties, etc?
ReplyDelete