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

[aBootes]

A nation -- means that we will need more than two or three folks; we need a majority or at least a large and active minority

of well informed men -- means we'll be needing folks with a good, solid, well-rounded education, a good selection of specialists in useful subjects, and a large dose of common sense all around.

who have been taught -- means we're gonna need folks who are well-informed and who prize knowledge, liberty, God, etc., and who are also able to teach; that is, to inspire the same in the rising generation

to know and prize -- means that folks will have to buckle down and learn, then go through whatever it takes to get to the place where they prize what they've learned

the rights which God has given them -- means that there are rights AND that they come from God; means that those rights are gonna be linked to moral behavior, reverence for the Almighty, his creations, and his creatures; means that once given they'll likely have to be cherished and defended because God seems not to be tolerant of those who take his gifts lightly

cannot be enslaved -- they will, however, be serving God; at peace with others who do the same, and interested in helping God extend these same benefits to those who do not enjoy them AND who are willing to do what it takes to get and keep them

Good idea to post that quote and ask for ideas

[anniegetyourgun]

I hope you are an educator. May your tribe increase.

[sgtbono2002]

Old Ben didnt know about todays Liberals. Not all liberals are ignorant but they want to take our freedoms.

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

This is the way Ben would say it today

[.30Carbine]

All of us are educators. ( ;

[NMC EXP]

"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

As another poster pointed out, if Franklin were alive today he would not support the federal department of education or any leader who advocated increasing it's size and scope.

This quote is straightforward. A person must be educated at home and in school in history, philosophy, and in civics to understand that individual liberty has been the rare exception throughout history.

He must further be educated to value liberty above everything else.

As Franklin predicted, the purpose of our dumbded down government schools is to produce citizens who simply don't know what they are missing. How can you resent the loss of liberty if you never knew you were intended to have it?

Here are a few more quotes on the topic:

“If a Nation expects to be ignorant and free in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be. If we are to guard against ignorance and remain free, it is the responsibility of every American to be informed.”
-- Thomas Jefferson

“If once they ["our people"] become inattentive to the public affairs, you and I, and Congress and Assemblies, Judges and Governors, shall all become wolves. “
-- Thomas Jefferson, letter from Paris, 1787

“A general dissolution of principles and manners will more surely overthrow the Liberties of America than the whole force of the common enemy. While the people are virtuous they cannot be subdued; but when once they lose their virtue they will be ready to surrender their Liberties to the first external or internal invader. If virtue and knowledge are diffused among the people, they will never be enslaved. This will be their great security.”
-- Samuel Adams

“What luck for rulers, that men do not think.”
-- Adolph Hitler

Regards

J.R.

[MeekOneGOP]

My thanks to ALL that have replied on this thread !!

[G.Mason]

"The question worded by the teacher for the education of this student, which the student is now asking us ........."

You ever heard of the KISS principle?

Don't answer that!

[MissAmericanPie]

Didn't you know Ben Franklin wasn't a Christian, he and all the other founding father's, who wrote about God in every other sentence, were diests.

[NittanyLion]

"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."

That's certainly true, but I would argue that arrogance could just as easily be substituted for ignorance. This takes place in two general forms:

The first: Few people understand the nature of government (always grasping for greater power) and so a new entitlement seems well-intentioned. These folks assume that they can hold tight the reins of government; in fact that's not possible once you've let it loose. And after all...the bulk of it isn't their money. The money comes from "the rich", who are generally defined as "anyone who makes more money than I do". Arrogance.

The second: Those who commit blindly their allegiance to party and excuse any steps that party may take to limit their freedoms. It is the ultimate in arrogance to root for greater government power so long as you're the one behind the steering wheel.

[Jemian]

Ping for twelve hours from now.

[Puppage]

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

I believe you just defined the followers of the democratic party.

[Drammach]

The intent of the constitution's creaters was that it be a document that could be understood and interpreted by the common man (or woman) of that time.

It was a constitution of, by and for the people.
It was not intended to be interpreted solely by the courts, nor was it intended to be amended solely by the legislator.
Thus, a jury of one's peers is required, and the jury is given the power to "nullify" unjust laws, and charges by refusing to convict the unjustly accused.
It is the people, who, in the end, decide whether the actions of the accused were justified, and whether the law under which he is accused is a just law.
Those rights are are being eroded by increasingly power hungry courts today.

Likewise, the constitution may not be amended without the approval of the people's representatives, being approved by two-thirds of the House and Senate and additionally, the rights of the individual states are protected by requiring that three-fourths of the state's legislatures ratify said amendment.

It is regrettable that, in our country's past, certain individuals in positions of power have usurped that right, and we now have controversy over some of those amendments, beginning with the "reconstruction amendments".(amends.13, 14, 15 )
The following amendments of Income Tax,(amend.16), and Senatorial appointment by popular vote.(amend.17).
( Take up your freindly World Almanac, and note the italic comments at the head of each amendment. Those noted as declared ratified are ALL in question. All other amendments make no such distinction. It simply states they were "ratified", ratification completed or certified. )

It is our duty, as citizens to be aware of what guarantees the constitution gives us, and and understand them.
Likewise, it is our duty to resist, and to end all such assaults upon those rights and liberties.
It is our duty to advise and remind our legislators, both local, state and federal, that we, the people, understand what the constitution is, what it says, and what it represents, and that we expect said legislators to abide by their oath to "support, uphold and defend" that constitution.

It is not the province of government to interfere in the practice of religious beliefs.
It is not the province of government to interfere in the right of self defense. (not of the nation, nor the community, nor of the individual.)
It is not the province of government to invade our homes or property without proper warrants, and properly provided evidence of probable cause.
It is not the province of government to interfere with the gathering of people, the presentation of greivances to the legislatures, for demands of redress for grievances.

"The Federalist Papers", a series of essays discussing the establishment of government, it's rights and responsibilities, and the rights of the individual states, and of the people, was published throughout the original states of the union, then under the U.S. Articles of Confederation.
These essays were read and discussed by every common man, even read to those that were not literate, in meeting halls, taverns, etc..
Every citizen was interested, and wanted to insure their interests were addressed, their newly won freedoms not lost.

We need to re-educate ourselves, before we experience the "tyranny" part of the quote.

[G.Mason]

"I believe you just defined the followers of the democratic party."

You know, [?] you're right.

Just shows what one can do, without even trying.

[LiberationIT]

While I don't agree that rights are granted by some god; one point where ignorance takes root is when people start to believe rights are granted by governments.

Governments are there to protect rights, not grant them. Governments only grant powers and that is where the tyranny begins.

[Skooz]

Communism (state worship) and all forms of false idolatry shall wither before the same force.

From beginning to end an excellent post.

[Ravenstar]

laredo44,
I think you miss the point of this quote. It is those that know and prize the RIGHTS which GOD has given them that cannot be enslaved. Those rights, some of which are enumerated in the Bill of Rights, are about freedom. When you have ignorance about those rights and about Government then you have the tyranny that is our present government. The fourth Amendment is violated hundreds of thousands times a day in this country yet so many here act as if this government is doing just fine. There is no cause to violate the Constitution yet it is being done by the entity that is forbidden to do it.

Ravenstar

[SpookBrat]

Awesome Meek. I have to take the girl child to the dentist and when we get back, we'll look over all these. You're the best.

[stainlessbanner]

“A good example is the best sermon.” – Ben Franklin

[aruanan]

Franklin is describing in the language of the times something people have always known--it is the ignorant and gullible who can be most easily manipulated by appeal to their emotions, avarice, and short term view of life. For example, intelligent, informed people don't outfit their apartment from the Rent to Own store. They're willing to defer gratification a relatively short time and get far better stuff for far less money. They don't wind up enslaved in debt. Politically speaking, intelligent, informed people know that you can't load the tax burden almost entirely on the productive citizens and expect them to remain productive. They also know that it isn't the government that is the fount from which all blessings flow but the creativity of an unfettered people. But the ignorant, give-it-to-me-now, folks don't want to hear that it depends on them, especially when they have politicians telling them they are victims and are due the substance of the "rich".

[Itzlzha]

"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."

Without seeming to contemplate my navel here, it seems that this quote highlights the NEA/LIEberal agenda to a "T".

Johnny can't read...write....do simple math such as making change...but Johnny KNOWS that "Global Warming" is real (even though lifelong scientists in the field of ecology refute these politically based findings)...
...that condoms will stop AIDS (even though ABSTINENCE is 100% effective at stopping casual spreading of the disease, we can't teach THAT!!!)...
...Johnny KNOWS he's gay ( even though he never thought he was UNTIL he was indoctrinated into that mind-set)...
...and Johnny KNOWS that education is underfunded and needs tax increases to give him a "proper" education ( even though Johnny has not been taught economics, or Political Science that ISN'T slanted to the LIEberal side, or "Critical Thinking" as in finding out information for HIMSELF!).

Yes, Johnny is WELL on his course to having a collar around his neck, and a pierced ring thru his nose to be led by...oh, Johnny HAS tha already?

Then the work of those who wish to CONTROL all knowledge, and DESTROY the spark of freedom that resides in ALL men is almost done!