Posted on 08/02/2003 1:27:56 PM PDT by Exton1
THOMAS JEFFERSON MEMORIAL
STATUE CHAMBER INSCRIPTIONS
I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.
Taken from a letter to Dr. Benjamin Rush, September 23, 1800.
We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, that to secure these rights governments are instituted among men. We...solemnly publish and declare, that these colonies are and of right ought to be free and independent states...And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine providence, we mutually pledge our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.
Taken from the Declaration of Independence, 1776.
Almighty God hath created the mind free
All attempts to influence it by temporal punishments or burthens
are a departure from the plan of the Holy Author of our religion
No man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship or ministry or shall otherwise suffer on account of his religious opinions or belief, but all men shall be free to profess and by argument to maintain, their opinions in matters of religion. I know but one code of morality for men whether acting singly or collectively.
Taken from A Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom, 1777. The last sentence is taken from a letter to James Madison, August 28, 1789.
God who gave us life gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, that his justice cannot sleep forever. Commerce between master and slave is despotism. Nothing is more certainly written in the book of fate than these people are to be free. Establish the law for educating the common people. This it is the business of the state to effect and on a general plan.
Taken from:
A Summary View of the Rights of British America: "God...liberty."
Notes on the State of Virginia: "Can...God?"
Notes on the State of Virginia: "commerce...despotism."
The Autobiography: "Nothing...free."
Letter to George Wythe, August 13, 1780 (?): "Establish...people."
Letter to George Washington, January 4, 1786: "This...plan."
I am certainly not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and constitutions. But laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors.
Taken from a letter to Samuel Kercheval, July 12, 1816.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/956919/posts
A fatigue be-medalled Beatle begging a murderer .........
or perhaps discussing how to send Catholic charity money to the IRA
or "Why did you leave Mary Jo in the Car?"
My connection makes sense, yours does not.
bert: I don't understand this thread, but can any one identify the medals? Are they legit?Kerry was given the silver star for a battle while he was an officer serving on a swift boat in the Mekong Delta. On February 28, 1969. The medal and his loathing of the war have been criticized by chicken hawks ever since he was elected, including those in the present administration. With the exception of Powell, however, they were generally 7,000 miles away from the battle that night. Linking anyone who volunteered for action in Vietnam to the Communist Manifesto is a fool's errand. Of course he's a big mouth. That's rule one of becoming a candidate.
Nufsed.
Exton1: All I have ever gotten was shit for being a Veteran, and it disturbs me that people still use it as a plus when its a Democrat and a negative when its a Republican.Well, excuse me for somehow yanking your chain. But my earlier post was an answer to someone named Bert who asked if Kerry's Silver Medal in the photo was genuine. It was. In my American Legion Post, we do not take lightly the accusation of anyone who was a silver star winner could somehow be associated with the Communist Manifesto. That was implied in the thread title and I am not the only one who remarked how weird that was. Your own service was very honorable, I'm sure, as was mine in the Vietnam era. I think that sometimes people have a hard time taking the chickenhawks of this administration seriously when we read of how they worked very hard to evade the draft and then criticized Clinton of doing the same. Clinton's dealings were shameful but Cheney's flip remark that he had other priorities than serving in Vietnam was not very inspirational to those of us who lost many friends in the jungle over there. Since Kerry volunteered for Vietnam and served admirably there, I think that over-the-tops claims that he is a communist demand proof. Just because he is a liberal does not mean he is a traitor and abets the enemy as claimed by many bullshitters lately who are selling books. Veterans should demand proof of those who make wild accusations about fellow veterans. But I'm sorry if you took offense at my post, which was certainly not aimed at you.
Others have indicated it is bad foprm to wear medals on fatigues. It is also bad form to claim medals not recieved. I'm just trying to fact check the photo. Did Kerry recieve the medals shown in the photo?
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