Let’s Not Forget Thomas Paine
Thomas Paine was an 18th and 19th century political writer. He is one of those writers everyone has heard of, but few have actually read.
Wikipedia said “ (February 9, 1737 [O.S. January 29, 1736] — June 8, 1809) was an English-born American political activist, philosopher, political theorist, and revolutionary. He authored the two most influential pamphlets at the start of the American Revolution and inspired the patriots in 1776 to declare independence from Great Britain. His ideas reflected Enlightenment-era ideals of transnational human rights. Historian Saul K. Padover described him as “a corsetmaker by trade, a journalist by profession, and a propagandist by inclination”.
Encyclopedia Britannica said, “ Thomas Paine, (born January 29, 1737, Thetford, Norfolk, England — died June 8, 1809, New York, New York, U.S.), English-American writer and political pamphleteer whose Common Sense pamphlet and Crisis papers were important influences on the American Revolution. Other works that contributed to his reputation as one of the greatest political propagandists in history were Rights of Man, a defense of the French Revolution and of republican principles; and The Age of Reason, an exposition of the place of religion in society.”
He was both admired and despised in his lifetime, as a genius and a rabblerousing atheist and abolitionist,
“These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it now deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us — that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: It is dearness only that gives everything its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as freedom should not be highly rated. Britain, with an army to enforce her tyranny, has declared that she has a right not only to tax but “to bind us in all cases whatsoever,” and if being bound in that manner is not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth. Even the expression is impious, for so unlimited a power can belong only to God.”
In the essay that begins ‘These are the times that try men’s souls,’ Paine described a noted Tory discussing the possibility of revolution who said, ‘give me peace in my day.’ Then Paine complained that a true patriot, and uh, ‘generous parent,’ I believe the phrase was, would have said ‘If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace.’
I have complained many times on social media, that our current president, DJT, is unwilling or unable to plan for his children and grandchildren, since he revokes good and necessary laws to protect the environment. One assumes that Jared and Ivanka Kushner’s children will need clean air to breathe and clean water to drink. Apparently DJT does not assume this, or he wouldn’t destroy the EPA. Paine would not consider DJT a generous parent, I suspect.
Thomas Paine’s writing is old enough to be in the public domain now. Don’t just read about him. Read what he wrote. He was a major influence on our Founding Fathers. He might influence you, too, if you give him a try before the First Amendment can be repealed.
Cassandra’s Warning: if DJT survives his impeachment, he will repeal the 1st, 22nd, and 25th Amendments if he can. Invest in old dictionaries, encyclopedias, and textbooks. Preserve copies of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and Thomas Paine’s essays. Write, call, e-mail, and/or tweet your congressional representatives. Remind your public servants that you are their masters, not the president. Make sure they know your will.
Remember what Franklin said https://www.bartleby.com/73/1593.html about “a republic, if you can keep it.” The word ‘if’ is there for a reason. We still must make a deliberate effort to keep the republic. It’s not automatic. We need to work at it.
