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Politics : High Tolerance Plasticity
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To: cnyndwllr who wrote (21689)10/4/2004 2:02:06 PM
From: Bruce L  Read Replies (1) of 23153
 
My Brother:

Re: DOES IT MATTER THAT WE ADHERE TO THE TRUTH WHEN
WE INVOKE HISTORY IN OUR POLITICAL ARGUMENTS?

You invoked "the founding fathers" in your political discussion with Dabum. When I challenged your historical accuracy, suggesting that these "fathers" were not nearly so concerned - as your "revolutionary" language suggested -about the state's "oppressive power" in areas such as "religion or other deeply important rights" - you became peevish:

"...I wonder whether you truly understand that complex process."

or sarcastic:

"...Or do you ...believe that our forefathers ...trusted
in the intrinsic goodness of those who would wield.. the awesome police power..?"

I was NOT questioning what conventional wisdom has EVOLVED to TODAY; I was only questioning whether your appropriation of the mantle (imprimatur) of the "founding fathers" in your polemic was historically accurate. Am I being pedantic? Does it matter, after all?

THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION AND THE FOUNDING OF A NATION

By the way, I was also upset by another of your implications, to wit, that the "fathers" were both united and original in their thinking. As in the genesis of many things, such as the first democracy, the truth is far more complex; and here, the July 4th myth and 8th grade textbooks are not much help.

CONTEXT IN HISTORY IS EVERYTHING

I will start with a quote from the famous historian and novelist, John Buchan. In speaking of an age a 100 years before (17th C.) he observed of that

No age has been more deeply moved by ideas, BUT THESE
IDEAS ARE NOT TO BE HASTILY IDENTIFIED WITH MODERN
NOTIONS,
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