General Discussion

joshcryer

(62,276 posts)

43. It's not pointless.

Fri Jul 4, 2014, 05:12 AM

Jul 2014

It helps us understand out heritage and helps us realize that the founding fathers were bastards, for the most part. Washington continues to amaze me. I didn't know he gave up his slaves at death. Dude was cool.

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The Declaration of Independence as Thomas Jefferson originally presented it. [View all] MohRokTah Jul 2014 OP

Kicked and recommended. Uncle Joe Jul 2014 #1

Thank you. conservaphobe Jul 2014 #2

King George: Britain's George Bush. JaneyVee Jul 2014 #3

I have referred to Bush#2 as King George more than once. merrily Jul 2014 #5

Penned the document, but did not free "his" slaves and merrily Jul 2014 #4

That Thomas Jefferson was brilliant, yet haunted by demons, courageous but compromising Uncle Joe Jul 2014 #6

I'm pretty sure that I would like to have him as a dinner party guest. littlemissmartypants Jul 2014 #7

I believe you have one of my favorite Uncle Joe Jul 2014 #15

That's one way to look at it. merrily Jul 2014 #8

Well that's understandable, if nothing else Jefferson was a complex individual and the Uncle Joe Jul 2014 #10

Nice metaphor and nice reply. merrily Jul 2014 #11

Even then, the Constitution was the equivalent of a Town Charter..... Spitfire of ATJ Jul 2014 #19

I'm not sure what you mean by it was the equivalent of a town merrily Jul 2014 #21

Just think of how a Constitutional Convention would fuck with the status quo.... Spitfire of ATJ Jul 2014 #32

I'd love several amendments, but I don't know merrily Jul 2014 #33

Funny how we wrote equal rights for women in the Iraqi constitution. Spitfire of ATJ Jul 2014 #34

Is that sarcasm? merrily Jul 2014 #38

After Scalia? It was more than sarcasm.... Spitfire of ATJ Jul 2014 #55

Well, we added a lot of amendments, thus rewriting it quite a few times. JDPriestly Jul 2014 #25

Thank you for that link n/t jtuck004 Jul 2014 #26

My pleasure. merrily Jul 2014 #27

Jefferson was a man of his time. JDPriestly Jul 2014 #28

Except that Jefferson, opposed slavery vigorously, in word, anyway. merrily Jul 2014 #30

Seems more anxious of slave revolts than worried about the system that made him very rich alcibiades_mystery Jul 2014 #9

Well, it gave him money to spend. I'm told spend it he did; and he died poor. merrily Jul 2014 #12

He was likely referring to white slaves under the Brits. joshcryer Jul 2014 #13

No, wrong. Bucky Jul 2014 #37

Fair enough. joshcryer Jul 2014 #40

The emboldened part... WOW. Wish it'd been left in. freshwest Jul 2014 #14

Excellent find vlakitti Jul 2014 #16

I read someplace that Franklin told him to take it out Quixote1818 Jul 2014 #17

I have never heard of this version of the Declaration of Independence, but I have read that JDPriestly Jul 2014 #23

He didn't free them after his death Bucky Jul 2014 #36

He was? The source I found says he opposed slavery all his life. merrily Jul 2014 #39

What you find when you google "Jefferson on slavery" Bucky Jul 2014 #44

Fantastic job. I am in awe. Please consider making your post an OP. merrily Jul 2014 #45

Found this video Quixote1818 Jul 2014 #18

Link? Source? JDPriestly Jul 2014 #20

. MohRokTah Jul 2014 #47

He never freed those slaves, either. He never knew a day on this earth without MADem Jul 2014 #22

You might find this interesting. JDPriestly Jul 2014 #24

Yes, I get what you are saying. MADem Jul 2014 #29

What I am saying is that we have to be careful about judging others, especially historical figures. JDPriestly Jul 2014 #31

That's a bit dark, imo. joshcryer Jul 2014 #42

It is dark. We can so easily judge the mistakes and wrongs of our ancestors, but JDPriestly Jul 2014 #57

I think any slave would take their chances being MADem Jul 2014 #51

And what do you think our great-grandchildren will say about our current disregard for the JDPriestly Jul 2014 #52

This conversation isn't terribly productive. Of course they'll disapprove. MADem Jul 2014 #53

I think we agree. He was not a saint, but we can learn from him to examine our own JDPriestly Jul 2014 #56

I agree with most everything in that post. MADem Jul 2014 #59

We really are on the same page. I recycle so much that our blue (recycle) bin is filled JDPriestly Jul 2014 #60

It's not pointless. joshcryer Jul 2014 #43

Not pointless to learn, pointless to complain and compare MADem Jul 2014 #50

This is my feeling as well. joshcryer Jul 2014 #41

Please note: TJ opposed the slave trade, not slavery itself Bucky Jul 2014 #35

Jefferson was a smart enough man Shankapotomus Jul 2014 #46

My American Lit students read it in the 90's, published with cross-outs and all; then the final ver- ancianita Jul 2014 #48

The offenses outlined seem more like coming from the GOP Congress than from the President. nt kelliekat44 Jul 2014 #49

Thank you Half-Century Man Jul 2014 #54

"It was very watered down for the eyes of King George and the sensibilities of the Southern...." AverageJoe90 Jul 2014 #58