Jimmy Carter: American Revolution Was 'Unnecessary'

NewsMax ^

[ArGee]

Note to Jimmy: Canada did not begin to gain independence until 1867. Australia did not receive partial independence as a commonwealth until 1901. India did not gain independence until 1947, and all the Indians who were killed by the British would hardly describe their deaths as "nonviolent."

Would any of them have received independence if one group of colonies had not stood up and shown the world what freedom and courage could be?

Shalom.

[ArGee]

When he shakes his head, I bet it rattles....

No, but if he shakes it fast enough you can hear a whistle.

Shalom.

[tanknetter]

Two preemptive caveats: first I think the big gaffe here is Carter neglecting to include the Civil War in his analysis.

Second, the Revolutionary War was both a good and VITAL thing when it comes to the promotion of liberty and representative government throughout the word (reference Reagan's various "city on a hill" speeches and comments).

In regards to Carter's take on the Revolution being unnecessary, had Parliament been more accomidating to the colonists, he has a good point. I recently read Caleb Carr's essay "William Pitt the Elder and the Avoidance of the American Revolution," in the book "What Ifs? of American History: Eminent Historians Imagine What Might Have Been" and found it to be a compelling case of what might have been ... IF a series of admittedly unlikely (in some cases HIGHLY unlikely) events had either occured, or not occured.

[SALChamps03]

It is amazing isn't it? How can this man, who can talk with authority about nuclear engineering be so lacking in common sense, and basic knowledge of the political process? I remember when I was a kid, I was so proud to have a Georgian in The White House. Now, I am ashamed that he and I hail from the same state. What a complete idiot. What I suspected then is true now. He's the biggest (female anatomy description) ever to reside at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

[Prophet in the wilderness]

it's called ( ORALFOOTILITIS )

[jla]

OMG, I am so ashamed.

I actually voted for this man in '76. I was young and stupid (I had JUST reached voting age, first election I ever voted in), I was away at college so I was out of touch, and he was going to carry Georgia regardless of whether I voted for him or not (by over 500,000 votes), but the mere thought of my idiocy makes me turn hot and cold all over and swear under my breath.

Mea maxima culpa, y'all. I had no idea what I was doing.

Well, I'll require a pecan pie if I'm to forgive you. Mea culpas don't go to good with ice cream. :^)

PS...I doubt you were ever "stupid", just uninformed.

[Corin Stormhands]

Run away! Run away!

[AnAmericanMother]

Well I was uninformed for sure, but I think most 18 year olds are pretty stupid. :-D

[Clump]

Hard to believe our country survived him being President for 4 years. Incredible.

[AmericanChef]

Who let Jimma out of his white room again?

I'm starting to think that Jimma is a work of fiction, but you just can't make this stuff up.

[znix]

As far as our bloodiest war, um, the War Between the States, and WWII come to mind. Lets see, the war could have been avoided if the Brits were more reasonable. Well, no kidding. What a genius. But they weren't reasonable so we went to war. That's like saying WWII could have been avoided if only Hitler had been more reasonable. Really, how profound. Nothing is more important to Jimmy Carter than avoiding war, nothing. Nothing is worth fighting for. Not even our Liberty, he says right here he would prefer the Crown of England was still our sovereign and we were its subjects, just like our cousins up North. Giving up the most important quality of America, unique in the history of the world.

Here is the American gift to the world that Jimmy Carter would deny to all mankind...

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 of 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.

I hate this guy more than he hates America.

[Honorary Serb]

I think another parallel is that in some ways the Revolutionary War could have been avoided. It was an unnecessary war.

Are you sure that he REALLY said that? It's just plain stupid. Maybe he is suffering from some sort of dementia, whether caused by depression, drug side effects, vascular problems, or Alzheimer's. Or maybe he is just letting bad ideology go to his head.

The American Revolution provided the example for nearly all later democratic revolutions, for good (e.g., Serbia, Greece) or for ill (e.g., France). It also provided the impetus for Britain itself to implement democratic reforms (e.g., the abolition of debtor's prisons, due process in the courts). Witnout our revolution, neither Canada nor India would be free, nor would much of anyplace else.

[TonyM]

"Jimmy Carter: American Revolution Was 'Unnecessary'"

Why didn't he say something when it happend? I mean, he is that old...right?

[donmeaker]

yeah jerry ford was nixon's insurance against impeachment. Didn't work cause demorats would rather wipe out the country rather than take a chance on losing power.

[Travis McGee]

Carter says that if only Adam hadn't taken that bite, we'd still be living in paradise.

What an idiot.

[Moonman62]

It's an argument that doesn't hold water because the founders obviously considered every option before taking the course of action they did. If this had been an option, I'm sure they'd have tried it (and, in fact, negotiations HAD been tried).

I would say so. Each of their lives were at stake once they declared war.

[talleyman]

Bugs Bunny quote - seemed appropriate for the victim of the "killer rabbit" attack...