Did the American Revolution flop in the long run?

[BlueStreak]

Originally Posted by finnbow

Our Founding Fathers deliberately punted on the issue of slavery. As you said, this long-brewing and unresolved issue ultimately led to the second bloodiest war in our history (and it was self-inflicted).

I believe it was in the McCullough Biography of John Adams wherein Adams was quoted as asking Jefferson during a discussion of the first draft of the constitution;

"And what of the unfortunate Negro, Thomas?"

Jefferson basically responded that "in time" there "may" be an amendment regarding "them". But, of course---------now is not the time.

In otherwords; Wait 'til after I'm dead, then I don't care what you do.

Dave

[merrylander]

Originally Posted by BlueStreak

I believe it was in the McCullough Biography of John Adams wherein Adams was quoted as asking Jefferson during a discussion of the first draft of the constitution;

"And what of the unfortunate Negro, Thomas?"

Jefferson basically responded that "in time" there "may" be an amendment regarding "them". But, of course---------now is not the time.

In otherwords; Wait 'til after I'm dead, then I don't care what you do.

Dave

But Sally Jenkins did.

[BlueStreak]

Sally Hemmings, Rob. And, yes, he made sure she and their, er, um, I mean "her" kids were well taken care of.

Dave

[merrylander]

Oh right Hemmings, guess the memory is going. Funny how everyone later got their knickers in a twist over Clinton.

[BlueStreak]

Well, like Clinton, Jefferson was a Democrat. The difference is there were no Republicans or FoxNews to fan the flames of contrived outrage.

Dave

[JJIII]

Welcome here, Pukka.

[BlueStreak]

Welcome back, Pukka.

I have missed your eloquently written posts. Do stay, and write freely, my friend.

Dave

[Oerets]

Yes welcome aboard!

I often wounder what TJ would say about the baby he helped bring into the world now it has grown up some?


Barney

[piece-itpete]

Nice Pukka, thanks.

Originally Posted by BlueStreak

Ummmmmm............I'd say that just because one can move up, or in some cases down, from one class to the next does not mean we are a "classless society". I do believe this is one of the greatest illusions of the American society. Class warfare does indeed exist, here in America and the belief that it does not, is the reason so many are losing the fight and slipping into working poverty.

They will cook you a hotdog, smile in your face and tell you "...we're all in the same boat." at the company picnic. But, just let them catch you in the executive bathroom and watch what happens.

Now, if you are saying we are a country that has no class........one trip to WalMart is your point made.

Dave

We are in almost perfect agreement

Originally Posted by finnbow

Our Founding Fathers deliberately punted on the issue of slavery. As you said, this long-brewing and unresolved issue ultimately led to the second bloodiest war in our history (and it was self-inflicted).

I've mentioned I think it actually brought the experiment to failure as the issue ended up giving the feds almost unlimited power by and by.

The writer in question is extremely narrowminded either accidentally or by design. He does say 'In these senses' so I suspect the latter. He also basically ignores massive changes in both society and structure since then - our government would be practically unrecognizable to the Founders.

As far as being a model for other countries, not many places can survive the level of free speech we have here

Pete

[bobabode]

General Sherman didn't go far enough. He should've taken a right at Atlanta and then backtracked up the coast all the way to Maryland. I'm a little crazy that way... oops, wrong war...