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Posted on 07/18/2003 7:39:31 AM PDT by snippy_about_it
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 are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.
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 Paine landed at Philadelphia on November 30, 1774. Starting over as a publicist, he first published his African Slavery in America, in the spring of 1775, criticizing slavery in America as being unjust and inhumaine. At this time he also had become co-editor of the Pennsylvania Magazine On arriving in Philadelphia, Paine had sensed the rise of tension, and the spirit of rebellion, that had steadily mounted in the Colonies after the Boston Teaparty and when the fightings had started, in April 1775, with the battles of Lexington and Concord. In Paine's view the Colonies had all the right to revolt against a government that imposed taxes on them but which did not give them the right of representation in the Parliament at Westminster. But he went even further: for him there was no reason for the Colonies to stay dependent on England. On January 10, 1776 Paine formulated his ideas on american independence in his pamphlet Common Sense.  In his Common Sense, Paine states that sooner or later independence from England must come, because America had lost touch with the mother country. In his words, all the arguments for separation of England are based on nothing more than simple facts, plain arguments and common sense. Government was necessary evil that could only become safe when it was representative and altered by frequent elections. The function of government in society ought to be only regulating and therefore as simple as possible. Not suprisingly, but nevertheless remarkable was his call for a declaration of independence. Due to the many copies sold (500.000) Paine's influence on the Declaration of Independence of July 4, 1776 is eminent. Another sign of his great influence is the number of loyalist reactions to Common Sense. During the War of Independence Paine volunteered in the Continental Army and started with the writing of his highly influencial sixteen American Crisis papers, which he published between 1776 and 1783. In 1777 he became Secretary of the Committee of Foreign Affairs in Congress, but already in 1779 he was forced to resign because he had disclosed secret information. In the following nine years he worked as a clerck at the Pennsylvania Assembly and published several of his writings. In 1787 Thomas Paine left for England, innitialy to raise funds for the building of a bridge he had designed, but after the outbreak of the French Revolution he became deeply involved in it. Between March 1791 and February 1792 he published numerous editions of his Rights of Man, in which he defended the French Revolution against the attacks by Edmund Burke, in his Reflections on the Revolution in France. But it was more then a defence of the French Revolution: An analysis of the roots of the discontent in Europe, which he laid in arbitrary government, poverty, illiteracy, unemployment and war. The book being banned in England because it opposed to monarchy, Paine failed to be arrested because he was already on his way to France, having been ellected in the National Convention. Though a true republicanist, he was imprisoned in 1793 under Robespierre, because he had voted against the execution of the dethroned king Louis XVI. During his imprisonment the publication of his Age of Reason started. Age of Reason was written in praise of the achievements of the Age of Enlightment, and it was om this book that he was acussed of being an atheist.  After his release he stayed in France until 1802, when he sailed back to America, after an invitation by Thomas Jefferson who had met him before when he was minister in Paris and who admirred him. Back in the United States he learned that he was seen as a great infidel, or simply forgotten for what he had done for America. He continued his critical writings, for instance against the Federalists and on religious superstition. After his death in New York City on June 8, 1809 the newspapers read: He had lived long, did some good and much harm, which time judged to be an unworthy epitaph. Writings If Paine's writings had been only political, he would have been held in honor as a bold and vigorous friend of human liberty. He was extraordinarily fertile in ideas, and broad-minded and progressive. He was in fact a great genius. His power of speech has always been admired. To him is to be traced the common saying, "These are the times that try men's souls," which is the opening sentence of the first number of The Crisis (which was printed in the Pennsylvania Journal, December 19, 1776).  His pamphlet, Common Sense (January, 1776), was one of the memorable writings of the day, and helped the cause of Independence. His Rights of Man; being an Answer to Mr. Burke's Attack on the French Revolution is a complete statement of republican principles. But it is as the author of The Age of Reason, an uncompromising attack on the Bible, that he is most widely known, indeed notorious. The first part of this work was handed by him, while on his way to prison in the Luxembourg, to his friend Joel Barlow, and appeared, London and Paris, March 1794; the second part, composed while in prison, December, 1795; the third was left in manuscript. "His ignorance," says Leslie Stephen, "was vast, and his language brutal; but he had the gift of a true demagogue,--the power of wielding a fine vigorous English, a fit vehicle for fanatical passion." Paine was not an atheist, but a deist. In his will he speaks of his "reposing confidence in my Creator-God and in no other being; for I know no other, nor believe in any other." He voiced current doubt, and is still formidable; because, although he attacks a gross misconception of Christianity, he does it in such a manner as to turn his reader, in many cases, away from any serious consideration of the claim of Christianity. His Age of Reason is still circulated and read. The replies written at the time are not. Of these replies the most famous is Bishop Watson's (1796).      |
It's a little after 6:30, and I have FINALLY gotten a dialup line to work in my hotel room. Everything is great; Italians are very much behind Bush and our efforts in the Gulf against terrorism. Most want to know what we think of Berlesconi over in America, and what will be the future of US - UN - EU relations.
But, only AFTER the food is gone, and there is nothing else to do but talk politics. I have only been online a couple of times since I got here, once for email, and now this quick hello. From what I can tell, most Italians think the French and Germans are playing a very dangerous game.
I have to go, but I wanted to say hello to my friends across the sea back there in the great 48. I'm out.
How wonderful to hear from you, I was just thinking of you this morning wondering about your arrival as I'm about to leave Oregon tomorrow.
Have a wonderful time and keep your eye out for any frenchies. lol.
SAM is up making pancakes and I hollered up to him and his wife, "Pukin' Dog signed on from Italy, woo-hoo!". LOL.
It's so sweet you thought of us.
I think double smooches are in order since you are in Italy! smooch, smooch!
:(
Yep. My buddy...I miss you already just thinking about it.
damnyankees are south-HATERS. the members of the walt brigade on FR, for several.
copperheads, otoh, are LOVED by true southrons.
free dixie,sw
Nice to know not all of old Europe has their hotel up their alpha. Nice to hear from you, any chance you'll make it to Anzio, Salerno or Cassino?
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USS TARAWA (LHA-1)
 The amphibious assault ship USS Tarawa (LHA 1) heads toward her berth at Naval Station San Diego with her Sailors and Marines "manning the rails," as they complete their six-month deployment. Tarawa and her embarked 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) supported U.S. and coalition forces during Operation Iraqi Freedom. U.S. Navy photo by Senior Chief Photographer’s Mate Mahlon K. Miller.  Aviation Boatswain’s Mate Airman Apprentice Aaron Robeck and his wife talk with news media upon Robeck's return from deployment aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Tarawa (LHA 1). Airman Apprentice Robeck was selected for the honor of the "first kiss" upon the ship’s return to San Diego. Tarawa and her embarked 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) supported U.S. and coalition forces during Operation Iraqi Freedom. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Bre' N. Cameron-Smith.  Aviation Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Shaw’s friends and family await the return of the amphibious assault ship USS Tarawa (LHA 1). Tarawa is returning from deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. U.S. Navy photo by Journalist 2nd Class Brian Brannon.  Lt. Robert Naudin Jr. holds his seven-week-old son for the first time as his wife looks on. Lt. Naudin is attached to the amphibious assault ship USS Tarawa (LHA 1) returning from deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. U.S. Navy photo by Journalist 2nd Class Brian Brannon.
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