Posted on 03/17/2016 8:33:03 AM PDT by C19fan
Has Hamilton saved Hamilton?
Lin-Manuel Miranda, the creator and star of the hit Broadway musical Hamilton, said on Wednesday that he had received assurances from Jacob J. Lew, secretary of the Treasury, that admirers of Alexander Hamilton would not be disappointed by a forthcoming redesign of the $10 bill. Mr. Lew has said that he wanted to add a womans image to that bill, which now features Hamiltons portrait. That plan has won support from many, but there have also been complaints from those who dont want to see Hamilton, the countrys first Treasury secretary, replaced.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
I’m reminded of a habit that my dad taught me. He learned it from his father, who learned it from his father. My dad never has a $20 bill. He refuses to accept or carry one. I’ve included the habit in my dealings.
My great, great granddad was “relocated” from North Carolina to Indian Territory (now Oklahoma) with five civilized tribes. They were civilized because they were not warring, and they had their own written languages. It involved President Jackson forcing tens of thousands of Indians (yes, they weren’t proud to be referred to as native Americans) to travel by foot from the east coast to a location some 1500-2000 miles away. Pregnancy, illness, infirmity caused many to die on the journey.
My dad tells me the story is that any one with this pedigree refused to accept a $20 bill - they would request two tens, or four fives. It was a great dishonor to have a drawing of Andrew Jackson since he had brought much misery to many people. Oh, Jackson caused the relocation for what we would call eminent domain today.
Personally if our currency needs to have a different face than what exists now, I would replace Jackson instead of Hamilton. But, I don’t see the need to tinker with any change. Since inflation has destroyed the value of a dollar, perhaps we can issue a new denomination. But coins have a longer life than paper currency.
Gwjack
Actually, I think that its time to honor someone from the Founding Generation besides the guys in fancy suits and wigs that drew squiggly lines on parchment. How about one of the common folk who helped win this country its independence. I nominate one Samuel Whittemore. Here’s a bio of this guy, who personifies the American spirit (or used to, until temporarily replaced by metrosexuals): http://www.badassoftheweek.com/whittemore.html
Emplaced in bunkers and rock formations, the enemy halted the advance with crossfire from three machine guns. With complete disregard for his personal safety, Second Lieutenant Inouye crawled up the treacherous slope to within five yards of the nearest machine gun and hurled two grenades, destroying the emplacement. Before the enemy could retaliate, he stood up and neutralized a second machine gun nest. Although wounded by a sniper's bullet, he continued to engage other hostile positions at close range until an exploding grenade shattered his right arm. Despite the intense pain, he refused evacuation and continued to direct his platoon until enemy resistance was broken and his men were again deployed in defensive positions.
Badass.
Whittemore was more of a badass.
But, OK, fine, let’s take ALL of the pols (except Washington) off the currency. Replace them with real heroes, people who bled (and maybe died) to make or keep us free. Show our people - and the rest of the world - what our freedom means to us.
A great effect of this would be to encourage knowledge about these people and their actions. We have precious little actual history being taught these days, and heroism in the cause of this country is largely dead as a subject matter worthy of being taught (according to the Leftists who control it).
They should just leave it alone. They’re always screwing with something. I don’t see the NEED to change anything.
With the value of the dollar dropping so fast, we will need to add a $500 and $1,000 note to the currency line up, the treasury can put Reagan on one and a woman on the other.
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