Q: Which one of these doesn’t belong in the group?
1. The American Revolution (1776).
2. The French Revolution (1789).
3. The Russian Revolution (1917).
4. The Chinese Revolution (1949).
5. The Cuban Revolution (1959).
6. The Cambodian Revolution (1975).
A: The correct answer is number 1. The American Revolution.
Even a quick study of the history of revolutions in this world shows conclusively that there are major characteristics that they share: THE IDENTIFICATION AND ELIMINATION OF ENEMIES, and the use of TERROR as a means of securing the goals and power of the revolutionaries. They all murdered in such mass that it is incomprehensible. Hate and murder are their legacies.
Another characteristic of revolutions is that the revolutionaries all think they’re smart enough rule the world. And they think that they can come up with some perfect form of government.
In total contrast to all that stands the genius of the Founders and the Revolution they fought, and the Constitution they developed. The major characteristic they shared was a profound distrust of anyone who thought they were smart enough to rule the world. The Founders didn’t try to create a perfect form of government. They very successfully sought merely to limit government - and thus the power of those who think they’re smart enought to rule the world. The Founders wisely understanding this, left the PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS in the hands of each citizen.
Unfortunately that is something modern liberals and putative revolutionaries don’t understand (of if they do understand it they don’t like it ...) .
Good post.