Ben Franklin Quote - Your feedback please

August 14, 2003

[MeekOneGOP]

"A nation of well informed men who have been taught to know and prize the rights which God has given them cannot be enslaved. It is in the region of ignorance that tyranny begins."

-- Benjamin Franklin

[MeekOneGOP]

"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." :)

hehe ! Well, here's from one beer drinker to another. Cheers !

[baseballmom]

Thanks so much for posting this thread. It has been a fascinating, informative, and thought provoking read.

Knowledge is power.

I remember so well my civics classes in school. Sadly, it's a watered down version now. One of the most important subjects is virtually neglected in the education of our youngest citizens.

[MeekOneGOP]

LOL !!

[MeekOneGOP]

You are very welcomed. I am please how well received this has been. Thank you !

[onyx]

Me too!

Now for a BTTT!

[.30Carbine]

Thank you, MnM. Your post was just what I was looking for, something solid backing up the premise. I look forward to going through the links you provided, and I appreciate you taking the time and care to present them.

[.30Carbine]

Dear Spookbrat,

I first sinned when I made very large assumptions based on very little information at the opening of this thread. Please tell your daughter that .30Carbine is a good example of what happens when one assumes things. I made a donkey of myself and I sinned against a friend, a mom who is doing everything in her power to protect her daughter from the evils of this world and to raise her up in the way that she should go.

What I did was wrong.

I came into this thread with passionate feelings surrounding public education and extrapolated them onto a situation where they were grossly inappropriate. I humbly beseech your forgiveness. Will you please forgive my arrogance, my ignorance, and my misdirected and inappropriate anger?

I have nothing but respect for a mother who cares so sacrificially for her daughter.

[G.Mason]

"I basically agree with it, only "being taught" may not be quite enough. There may have to be a generation from time to time that has to face the loss of freedom to a tyrant and repel that imminent threat in order for freedom to remain viable in a society."

You have a valid point.

It does seem that "being taught" has it's limitations in that it will be followed for a period of time and then seemingly tossed aside.

Undoubtably that is what is happening and explains the sayings about our being doomed to repeat history.

[G.Mason]

I did omit the fact that Franklin said, in this quote:
"A nation of well informed men who have been taught to know and prize the rights which God has given them cannot be enslaved. It is in the region of ignorance that tyranny begins."

It is , as you say, not enough to be taught them, one must value that which is being taught.

[Michael121]

Thomas Jefferson's personal seal:

"Rebellion to Tyranny is Obedience to God"

Thomas Jefferson "The tree of life needs the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure."

[Diva Betsy Ross]

I have been thinking about this qoute. Hubby and I were talking about the school choice movement, and our decession to homeschool. We sort of look at it like this: The public school system is trying to impart their tyrany by controling the population of students through various means. One of the ways the people in this system do this is by labling children as ADD. I believe most children with ADD are gifted and strong. I believe this is exactly why some of the weaker minded people , who do not accpreciate competition, try and ruin these children and "calm them down." It is the ignorant parents, meaning parents who do not understand the political nature of public schools today ,as well as the parent who is taking the easy way out, who agrees to this treatment for their children.

We, in the school choice movement are practing our God given rights to educate and embrace all of our children. If we as parents all caved in the public school system, in this day and age, under these politicaly motivated circumstances, we would see tyrany. We would see one political group making up the rules, one mind set and one type of person setting the rules on how to educate children and how to raise all futures generations of Americans.

I believe this statement is pointing out who it is that is responsible for the freedoms we have now, people who believed in God and were motivated by those beliefs to fight for them. We can also see who is going to continue to pave the road to keep our freedoms alive.

The school choice movement is just one example of this type of control that turns into tyrany. I think Ben Franklin is showing us why it is important to fight, ( because if we don't we ahve tryany) why we are entitled to fight( because it is our God given right) and who to watch out for in the fight for freedom.( the ignorant).

Also ignorant people try to control other people because it is easier to control braver, stronger and smarter people than it is to compete , or even keep up with them.

[SpookBrat]

You're so sweet. You're kidding right? My daughter isn't scarred. We read a Benjamin Franklin biography last year and she read all about his common-law wife and his son being a Tory, etc. No need to apologize. This was a great thread and a lot of help to me and her as well. (I'm the teacher. I've got 9 kids in my class).

[SpookBrat]

What an interesting post. You are right. I recognize and prize the rights God has given ME....to parent, teach, raise and love my children. They don't belong to the government. They belong to God and He has given me charge of their upbringing.

Schools are tyrannical. They tell us when we can go see grandparents. They tell us we've been sick "too much". They tell us when we can go on vacation. They tell us when we can take Christmas break. They tell me my children are not allowed to spend time with us in the evenings by sending hours of homework. They tell us when we can be a family.....after everything they sent home to do is completed, then we can be a family.

They can kiss my butt.

I won't be controlled. I won't be told when I can spend time with my kids. I only have them for 18 short years. The government wishes we only have them for 5 (now days, 3 or 4).

[SpookBrat]

Blessed is Meek, for he shall inherit the earth.

[lonestar]

Those that do not care, or are indifferent about that most basic of human rights, and others, become enslaved.

And take the rest of us with them.

[lonestar]

"A nation of well informed men who have been taught to know and prize the rights which God has given them cannot be enslaved. They vote Republican.

"It is in the region of ignorance (Florida) that tyranny begins." They vote Democrat.

[MeekOneGOP]

Aw, thanks ! :O)

So how did the assignment go ? ...

[G.Mason]

"And take the rest of us with them."

Very true.

Though I have thought the "worm" was turning these past 20 years, other than the Reagan years, we have steadily moved towards the abyss.

I'm afraid we will be made to suffer a great fall before "the people" understand America must adhere to basics, like morality, honesty, loyalty, etc. etc.to survive and truly prosper.

Like the Boy Scouts' Oath, so to speak.

It's a shame we must learn lessons of life much like a drunk, who [may] finally realize, at his lowest point, that he cannot continue and pulls himself up out of the muck and mire.

Though it may not be evident here, I am an optimistic and life loving person.

[SpookBrat]

We're still working on it. I gave the kids one more week to finish it. It turned out to be a little overwhelming.

[MissAmericanPie]

Here's a good one from scriptures:

"My people perish for lack of knowledge"

It is this lack of knowledge that has allowed scoundrels and politicians to rob Christians of their wealth and freedoms by twisting scriptures into a trap from which the unlearned cannot defend themselves.