...We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness--That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive to these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such Principles and organizing its Powers in such Form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness...
- - Thomas Jefferson
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Independent Thought
As we in the United States celebrate our independence and the birth of our nation, let us remember the words that began it all, appreciate the power of the message and ask ourselves why our leaders today are unable to capture the hearts and minds of our country through their writing and speeches. We as a nation are not developing leaders but followers who believe they know how to lead. We no longer teach our youth to think and debate through classes on rhetoric and oratory, but to memorize text books and only give answers that are predetermined as correct. Only a society that allows people to think and openly debate their thoughts can produce leaders like the man who wrote our Declaration of Independence.
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3 comments:
Not that I want the FBI checking up on me b/c of this, but isn't Jefferson endorsing revolution? When "the people" think government is way off track? But how does one determine how many of "the people" you need to justify revolution?
Candidly, while the fathers of our nation did well in architecting a system of government that ensures tranquil passing of power and stability... it also prevents great leaders (and any evil ones) from taking the nation and changing it for the better (or worse). hard to reach revolution levels with so many checks and balances in place... but now I'm just babbling... :-)
I think the thing that is really too bad in today's political discourse is that there Is NO discourse-you have people yelling and insulting a person with whom they may disagree... The lack of civility in any political discussion(from both sides) means I pretty much have given up on most talk radio and news shows. Bill O'Reilley and Rosie O'Donnell both give me a freakin' headache.
What is the cause of the lack of good debate and discussion in our society? Is it political correctness, apathy, idiocy, senselessness, fear or any other factors? We have gotten to the point that a select few can dish out their opinions and are unwilling to take on a real debate and we call this one-sided pontificating entertainment. There is truly something wrong when those overseas engage in a more thoughtful debate on the American Political System then any US citizen does…
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