Posted on 05/02/2009 10:22:18 AM PDT by quesney
While reading the following news story:
http://uk.reuters.com/article/motoringAutoNews/idUKTRE5406CF20090501
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I was reminded two very important quotes from John Adams about the American Revolution:
* As to the history of the revolution, my ideas may be peculiar, perhaps singular. What do we mean by the Revolution? The war? That was no part of the revolution; it was only an effect and consequence of it. The revolution was in the minds of the people, and this was effected from 1760 - 1775, in the course of fifteen years, before a drop of blood was shed at Lexington. o Letter to Thomas Jefferson (1815-08-24), The Works of John Adams
What do we mean by the American Revolution? Do we mean the American war? The Revolution was effected before the war commenced. The Revolution was in the minds and hearts of the people; a change in their religious sentiments, of their duties and obligations... This radical change in the principles, opinions, sentiments, and affections of the people was the real American Revolution. * Letter to H. Niles (1818-02-13)
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In other words, years before the American Revolution, there had been a revolution in people's minds about the way things were and the way things should be.
Forget the disputes over just how real are Obama's high poll numbers. This is beyond Obama, or even his current followers.
Whether we realize it or not, the US went through another mental revolution of thought over the past few decades -- maybe beginning as far back as the anti-war protests of the 1960s, maybe to Roosevelt's New Deal, maybe to Lincoln forcing a more centralized Union...whatever.
This revolution of thought has slowly eroded the entire mental foundation of the country's founding principles.
The U.S., as it was and as many of us here still think of it, is already gone. Dead. A number of us have not fully caught up to this emerging reality.
Obama, and Bush before him, are only making that obvious. Steele, Arlen Spectre, the feckless GOP, all the rest -- it's all part of bigger picture already drawn and entrenched, maybe even before many of us were born.
Many of us are holding onto a mental artifact that is gone or never existed in the minds of our "fellow Americans." That remains true no matter what happens to Obama, long after he's gone.
Does that mean we give up? No. But that if you're making a personal decision not to give up, you have to start thinking more seriously about follow-up to those Tea Parties and perhaps to secession.
The U.S. is, beyond everything else, an idea. When our "fellow Americans" no longer share the basic elements of that idea -- of even basic standards of mutual respect, logic, reason, civil discourse, respect for others as equals -- our "fellow Americans" are no longer our "fellow Americans."
Plan accordingly.
‘E’s not pinin’! ‘E’s passed on! This country is no more! He has ceased to be! ‘E’s expired and gone to meet ‘is maker!
‘E’s a stiff! Bereft of life, ‘e rests in peace! If you hadn’t nailed ‘im to the perch ‘e’d be pushing up the daisies!
‘Is metabolic processes are now ‘istory! ‘E’s off the twig!
‘E’s kicked the bucket, ‘e’s shuffled off ‘is mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin’ choir invisibile!!
THIS IS AN EX-COUNTRY!!
Lovely plummage the American Bald Eagle.
Whether the republic is dead, or at some other point on a continuum towards its demise, is little more than an interesting academic exercise. We should spend little time engaged in that exercise and most of our time doing the things that have to be done to save it no matter how advanced the destruction.
America’s principles haven’t changed. There are still millions of us who hold those principles in our hearts and adhere to them. The way back, no matter how you cut it, is to help our fellow citizens return to those first things.
Agree, except with the idea of this being an academic excerise: you have to know where you are to best plan and commit to where you want to go.
That was one hell of a summary. I’m not as cynical, but I think you’ve nailed it.
Ditto! Never, never. “I regret that I have but one life to give for my country.”
Blah, blah, blah...you obviously look in the mirror and “see” an intellectual. You’re just another hack.
Let’s all move to Canada and become lumberjacks.
Yes! A lumberjack!
Leaping from tree to tree
as they float down the mighty rivers
of British Columbia
The giant larch, the redwood, the mighty Scots pine
With my best girl by my side
We’d sing, sing, sing.....
Oh! I’m a lumberjack and I’m OK
I sleep all night and I work all day
Governments can put you in a prison without any bars. The Soviets did it. I don't think we will see Soviet Union style conditions here in the US, but one day we'll be asking what the hell happened to the country if the current trend continues..
And I would bet that said spark will be the same one that ignited the original American Revolution---an attempt to disarm the people. All those folks buying record numbers of guns and ammo are voting for it already. I do NOT think those folks intend to surrender them, if, as, or when Obama and his buddies try their gun ban(s).
That WILL be the spark.
I have been saying this for months now. I would rather live in Europe under their governments than under this fascist tyrannical banana republic.
“Blah, blah, blah...you obviously look in the mirror and “see” an intellectual. You’re just another hack.”
I don’t see myself as an intellectual — just as a concerned citizen. I’m not sure what you see yourself as.
Agree with all who believe it is too late for others to effectively extinguish the “America” concept.
Thought should be given to creating local “Civilian National Defense Corps” - albeit with a better title - with formal recognition by red state Republican politicians.
(How did Republicans get snookered into accepting the “red state” designation?)
The sole political non-violent purpose of such groups would be, as is requried in federal oaths, to defend the Constitution,
The challenge for patriots who choose to defend the Constitution may be to proceed in the absence of the internet, a free press, untapped telephones,etc.
Overly pessimistic.
One, it will take only ONE right person to turn this.
I see myself as someone who recognizes an obvious fan of Obama’s and his Marxist ideal. You’re no better than Carville, Begala or Meghan McCain.
Never give up!
Never never never give up!
Read “Slouching Towards Gommorah” by Robert Bork, 1996. What is happening is almost unstoppable. It breaks my heart.
Divide the country in half. It’s the only solution I see.
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