In 3 days we will be celebrating the birth of our nation. Of all our forefathers, Thomas Jefferson was the most instrumental in shaping our destiny. This brilliant and remarkable man was the author of the Declaration Of Independence and the Statute For Religious Freedom. He was also the founder of the non-religious University Of Virginia. He was intelligent, extremely organized and very, very busy! His list of accomplishments are astounding. He was a lawyer, scientist, philosopher, statesman, architect, musician, farmer, bibliophile, inventor, wine connoisseur, and mathematician. He was fluent in French, Spanish, Italian, Latin, and Greek. Probably, the most accomplished human being of all time. We are damn lucky this guy was part of our history. Too bad modern politicians are not more like him. I think we should all say, "thank you, Thomas Jefferson!"
Ironically, he died on the fourth of July, 1826. That was the 50Th anniversary of the United States and only 183 years ago. Have a happy and thoughtful 4Th of July!
Truly a great man. And don't forget he was also an indefatigable womanizer and practically invented the art of deficit spending in his own finances. His old sparring mate, John Adams, died the same day.
ReplyDeleteThe big question is whether Newt Gingerich will surpass Jefferson's accomplishments.
Happy Fourth,
Tsar Patrovich
Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence ?
ReplyDeleteFive signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died.
Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned.
Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured.
Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War.
They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.
What kind of men were they?
Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists.
Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated,
but they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death
if they were captured.
Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the
British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags.
Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly.
He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were
taken from him, and poverty was his reward.
Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and
Middleton.
At the battle of Yorktown , Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters.
He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt.
Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months.
John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste.
For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished.
So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and silently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they paid.
Remember: freedom is never free! I hope you will show your support by sending this to as many people as you can, please. It's time we get the word out
that patriotism is NOT a sin, and the Fourth of July has more to it than beer, picnics, and baseball games.