‘What the 250th anniversary means today … living under Trump.’ Rag writing contest second entry.
By Anonymous #2
On this 250th anniversary of our country, while being under the control of Donald Trump, I am reminded of those men and women who fought to allow the birth of this county in the first place: the original patriots.
I am reminded of patriot George Washington who understood the importance of healthcare within a military, thus mandated inoculations of the troops.
“The small pox has made such Head in every Quarter that I find it impossible to keep it from spreading thro’ the whole Army in the natural way. I have therefore determined, not only to innoculate all the Troops now here, that have not had it, but shall order Doc Shippen to innoculate the Recruits as fast as they come in to Philadelphia. They will lose no time, because they will go thro’ the disorder while their clothing Arms and accoutrements are getting ready.” – George Washington
I am reminded of patriot John Adams who understood, not just the importance of healthcare wtih a military, but of commerce and a country, thus advocated for universal healthcare with a government run system.
“But when we reflect that this fatal disorder has within a few years made repeated ravages in some of our principal sea ports, and with increased malignancy, and when we consider the magnitude of the evils arising from the interruption of public and private business, whereby the national interests are deeply affected, I think it my duty to invite the Legislature of the Union to examine the expediency of establishing suitable regulations in aid of the health laws of the respective States; for these being formed on the idea that contagious sickness may be communicated through the channels of commerce, there seems to be a necessity that Congress, who alone can regulate trade, should frame a system which, while it may tend to preserve the general health, may be compatible with the interests of commerce and the safety of the revenue.” – John Adams
I am reminded of patriot Thomas Paine who understood how wealth corrupts and controls, thus argued for a progressive wealth tax on those with large assets to keep them from keeping too much of it, as he knew that all assets in the hands of a few was a threat to the democracy they were trying to build.
“But the chief object of this progressive tax (besides the justice of rendering taxes more equal than they are) is, as already stated, to extirpate the overgrown influence arising from the unnatural law of primogeniture, and which is one of the principal sources of corruption at elections.” – Thomas Paine
I am reminded of the patriot James Madison who felt that the takeover of a government by like-minded people, instead of a mix of many points of view and beliefs is the breeding ground for tyranny, thus supported keeping the three branches of government separate and distinct, with no one group having full control of those branches, else when one branch does not do their job independently, it becomes tyranny.
“The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, selfappointed, or elective, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny.” – James Madison
I am reminded of the patriot Thomas Jefferson who understood how religion can take over government and threaten the foundations he laid out in the Declaration of Independence, thus fiercely defended the stance that religion and state must be separate and detached, including how any religious educational institution and instruction should be completely independent from the state, particularly when it came to funding.
“Had not the Roman government permitted free enquiry, Christianity could never have been introduced. Had not free enquiry been indulged, at the aera of the reformation, the corruptions of Christianity could not have been purged away. If it be restrained now, the present corruptions will be protected, and new ones encouraged.” – Thomas Jefferson
“But our rulers can have authority over such natural rights only as we have submitted to them. The rights of conscience we never submitted, we could not submit. We are answerable for them to our God. The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg. … Reason and free enquiry are the only effectual agents against error.” – Thomas Jefferson
I am reminded of the patriot Samual Adams who warned us all of what could become the beautiful country that they fought so hard to establish, thus championed the idea that the citizens of this nation must educate themselves while keeping their civility, while leaders must keep their morality and not be men with personal designs, instead an understanding of service to the citizens and the Constitution.
“No people will tamely surrender their Liberties, nor can any be easily subdued, when knowledge is diffused and virtue is preserved. On the Contrary, when People are universally ignorant, and debauched in their Manners, they will sink under their own weight without the Aid of foreign Invaders.” – Samuel Adams
I am reminded of the patriot Benjamin Franklin who, having seen the controlling men of Europe, who controlled not for good, but for their own greed, lived to oppress others and to fulfill themselves, thus sent warnings, in his writings about who should lead the United States, of how such men would send any democratic government into turmoil while also creating worldly chaos, because these men put themselves over country and that means the country is the one to suffer.
“Sir, there are two passions which have a powerful influence on the affairs of men. These are ambition and avarice; the love of power, and the love of money. Separately each of these has great force in prompting men to action; but when united in view of the same object, they have in many minds the most violent effects. place before the eyes of such men a post of honour that shall at the same time be a place of profit, and they will move heaven and earth to obtain it. The vast number of such places it is that renders the British Government so tempestuous. The struggles for them are the true sources of all those factions which are perpetually dividing the Nation, distracting its councils, hurrying sometimes into fruitless & mischievous wars, and often compelling a submission to dishonorable terms of peace.
And of what kind are the men that will strive for this profitable pre-eminence, through all the bustle of cabal, the heat of contention, the infinite mutual abuse of parties, tearing to pieces the best of characters? It will not be the wise and moderate, the lovers of peace and good order, the men fittest for the trust. It will be the bold and the violent, the men of strong passions and indefatigable activity in their selfish pursuits. These will thrust themselves into your Government and be your rulers. And these too will be mistaken in the expected happiness of their situation: For their vanquished competitors of the same spirit, and from the same motives will perpetually be endeavouring to distress their administration, thwart their measures, and render them odious to the people.” – Benjamin Franklin
And I am reminded of the words in the Declaration of Independence in laying out their facts for why independence was essential:
“He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.”
“He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.”
“He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.”
“He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.”
“He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.”
“He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.”
“He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.”
“He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.”
“He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.”
“He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:”
“For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:”
“For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:”
“For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:”
“For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:”
“For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:”
“He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.”
“He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.”
“He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.”
So, while there are many in this country today who cosplay as “patriots” and throw labels like “socialist” and “enemy of the state”, I am reminded of the true patriots. The ones who had a vision for a new country as one built for the people, not the politicians. The ones who saw politicians as the servants, not the other way around. The ones who saw what corruption did to other countries, and eventually what citizens did in those other countries to get their power back. I am reminded of all of this and find some hope. But also ask if I am doing enough. Am I living up to their expectation of me as a patriot?
