Mood:
sharpTopic: "Foundling Fathers"(7)
Disdain is probably an appropriate word to describe Frodo's feelings whenever a political candidate starts talking about the "Founding Fathers." In recent days John Quincy Adams, the 6th President, has been identified by one weak-minded twit as a contemporary of Adams, Jefferson, Washington, Franklin, Madison, Henry, Hamilton, and yes, even Aaron Burr. What really begins to grind his butt is when one of the current escapees from a Psych Ward talks about what the FF (as we will identify them for future reference) believed or how they behaved.
Nearly every educated voter is aware of the fact that Thomas Jefferson was not only a slave owner, but he found special pleasures therein. Few know however, that Jefferson also arranged for a chamber to be constructed to a depth of 16 feet below the newly-constructed "White House" in order to store his wine collection. Franklin, Hamilton, and Burr, at the very least each made Bill Clinton's shenanigans seem mild, as they cuckolded in every direction, and in nearly every position.
It would probably be disputed by nearly each of those who would be President that the newly-enacted Constitution was under constant threat of change, since nearly every political figure of the time thought the document to be imperfect and imprecise. The current set of pretenders have already found instances appropriate to the allegation that the FF were devout Christians and that seeking God's wishes for a Christian Nation was the end-plan by the time of the coming election. It is difficult to even imply Christianity given the writings of the individual FF, and most certainly the Deism of Jefferson suggests that the Constitutional references to an active Supreme Being are inconsistent, at best.
It is not Frodo's intent to besmirch the good works and the sacrifice of those who risked "sacred life, honour, and fortune." It is his point that we, dear reader, tend to somehow impose our values on the facts as they took place. This leads him to the point of what follows herein, and what that is will be quoted to the end of this piece, and Frodo will offer no additional commentary. Frodo will merely suggest that each read and consider, taking into consideration events taking place in Middle Earth as we speak. Understand we must that the problems we face have been confronted before and most likely, to be confronted again by those who learn not.
"In 1785, when Jefferson was Ambassador to France, he wrote James Madison a revealing letter from the royal palace of Fontainebleau, where the king and queen were enjoying the hunting season. Jefferson told Madison how, while strolling in the countryside, he had met a ragged woman who had two children to feed and no bread. Jefferson described the vast acreage of the king's demesne and told Madison he thought the grossly unequal distribution of property that prevailed in aristocratic Europe was a curse. They must see to it that it never happened in America. The earth was given as 'a common stock for men to labour & live," Jefferson declared. The future happiness of America depended on giving as many people as possible at least 'a little portion' of land. "The small landholders,' Jefferson wrote, 'are the most precious part of a state.'" --from "Duel, Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr and The Future of America," written by Thomas Fleming, 1999.
