There was a world of history behind the American Revolution.

maverick muse on July 5, 2008 at 2:30 PM

Thanks Maverick. I appreciate you taking the time to write that and share it. I don’t have much of an understanding of who the British are/were. However, many years ago, when I was still politically unaware and generally asleep, I happened to visit London, and just happened (truly) to walk into the British museum, and just happened to stumble into their old documents sections, and just happened to find myself alone in a room staring at the Magna Carta. It was like an electric shock went through my body. I may not have fully understood what that meant to me, but I wasn’t asleep anymore.

(The embarrassment and shame of not knowing in advance what treasures lay inside were the swift kick in the butt I needed. Even worse, it wasn’t the first time I was handed a gift of gold only to reject it. On another occasion, I literally drove by Ephesus and Troy in Turkey, but never stopped. I still cringe at that. A third, and final such occasion was when I finally made it to the National Gallery in DC, was standing outside on the steps in the rain about to go in, when my wife said that my very young children were utterly exhausted, and that we’d have to “skip” it. As I walked away, that time did I think God was smiling at me. )

A friend of mine sent me an essay on America by David Gerlernter. It talks about some of the world of history behind the Revolution. I hope you like it.

But on a micro-level, it was still merely the accomplishment of one man’s life’s work that was being threatened by the British– or were the colonists protecting the 100 year history their ancestors had also created?

Still merely one man on the microlevel?
100 year ancestral history?

JiangxiDad, did so little of the British experience in China rub off or stay intact following all of the Communist revolutions? India suffered every bit as much as the Chinese under the British Empire’s colonial elitism. Yet witness the Indians culturally and socially advancing themselves beyond what they were prior to their British colonialism. Also, that via non-violent rebellion, they not only overcame their British conquerors, but did so without the ignorant rejection of whatever GOOD the British experience taught them. I have great respect for Buddhism, and along the lines of Joseph Campbell, admire the more ancient mythology from India.

Although New Amsterdam and other colonies were settled by other Europeans, those who first left Europe to live their lives on the American continent appreciated the rule of law already established by the English via the Magna Carta, the Danes were closely related. There has never been nor never will be a perfect people. But ENGLISHMEN, themselves having come to terms with being a multicultural mixed Anglo-Saxon-Gaelic-Celtic-Norman race, by tradition abide by rule of law. Our colonial Americans by the time of our American Revolution were Englishmen by birthright and loyal subjects of the British Monarchy. British tradition for the rule of law was established because the people demanded that their Kings be noble and just, and by a given point, required that their Kings listen to their noble gentry who represented all locales of the kingdom’s populace. The British were, after all, part of the Holy Roman Empire with all of Rome’s traditions carried forth.

There was a world of history behind the American Revolution.

Forgot to say one thing:

I liked your take on the difficult sacrifices the colonists indeed made in this wilderness, and how the grievances against the crown and the actions that followed by the colonists were fully justified. But on a micro-level, it was still merely the accomplishment of one man’s life’s work that was being threatened by the British– or were the colonists protecting the 100 year history their ancestors had also created?

If so, how is that so different today, when someone might say that 200 years of democracy are threatened by certain actions of the liberal establishment and should be countered now? It doesn’t jive with your idea (which I’m not at all rejecting, btw) that you don’t endorse being bold unless/until one’s livelihood (and only one’s livelihood?) is threatened by the fascists.

It seems to me, respectfully, that you’ve thought this through further than I have–even to the point of having considered exactly when you feel it necessary to fight–something I haven’t done yet in all seriousness. I suspect Maverick, that you will respond earlier than most.

Thank you for the comments about reminding us to remember our history, and for reminding me to keep the gifts of western civilization alive in my kids. At the very least, I will try to keep the doom and gloom far enough away from them to make sure their candle is lit.

maverick muse on July 5, 2008 at 6:49 AM

What a great comment. Thanks for that. I’m going to keep it!

Agreed.

BTW, it’s disappointing how one fragment of one person’s thought will monopolize a HotAir thread. Your points herein were well made.

As per conservatives not putting up but staying shut up, for the moment’s ease that is understood to avoid friction. However, for the long run, that’s not really such a good thing unless you LIKE it that way. I do not endorse being bold unless one’s livelihood is destroyed by the fascists anyway. At that point, what’s to lose? But in advance, what to do? I hope that your children find friends who enjoy the world of natural science and art and are not afraid to play, study, observe and think for fun together as we did growing up.

As per the American Colonial standard of living following a century of back breaking work (nearly all came over as indentured servants, aka slaves for a minimum 7 or so years), yes, following a century of pain staking labor, by the time of the revolution many had it better than those lower working class who stayed behind in England to serve “their social betters” from the basement. But then, the American Colonials sacrificed everything to come to America and build it, whereas the servant class in England had their necessities met and felt no compulsion to give up all security downstairs for a fresh start where nothing but the violence of raw nature and native tribes awaited. Good history accounts make note that forces in 1776 fighting for the British thought Americans had too much, more than they should, compared to what they had going for them back home in England. Funny, how that always works. Someone gives up everything, moves to a new world, builds a great life at perpetual cost in sacrifice and loss, is loyal and obedient to King, serving the King’s military without option of making that life a career, serving obediently until their established rights enjoyed here-to-fore as Englishmen are usurped by the King who wants the very folks who gave up everything in order to move to again give up all that they’ve built on their own in the new world because those who stayed back home in their English manors don’t want to pay for their own wars, prefering to defer all taxation onto the Colonists. Tax the Colonists, they have money and we want to keep ours; besides, we who remained in England are better than they are. Don’t allow the Colonists to trade with each other any longer, either; force them to buy everything from England, pay the shipping AND EXTRA TAXES AND TARIFFS TOO. And above all, remember that Colonists may not have a voice in Parliament, and their diplomatic voices are not heard. (Yes, it all has a horribly familiar ring to it.)

The revolution began as a game of chicken, each side hoping the other would let down the guard to work out a diplomatic compromise, each side finally demanding their God given right to their position. That the British military forces failed to cooperate together during our Revolution was their undoing and our good fortune thanks to Providence. None the less, it was a matter of endurance through grotesquly inhumane tribulation for Washington’s forces to endure, left without any regular supplies throughout the entire war fought shy of a decade during the mini-ice age through devastating winters and blizzards without shoes, food, tents, coats, medicine, etc. When canons fell into deep icy rivers, the men dove in to retrieve them by hand, no shoes, coats, blankets, tents or real food awaited them at camp. It was a miracle that all things worked together for Washington’s victory and for our Constitution to be framed and signed, and that Washington set the course as our first and greatest president. It remains a miracle to the extent that we preserve our heritage intact for our children to love and appreciate as we do.

I was also thinking of Australia’s settlers who had no choice, being forced to go. We admire the wonderful country they built out of a continent much less fertile and more insufferable with poisons and isolated from Motherland than North America’s East Coast. Australia today has the brilliant practice that every citizen must vote or pay the financial penalty.

I hope we all appreciate to honor the huge accomplishment our founding fathers achieved for everyone to preserve and strengthen for posterity, whether American or else with their own as in Iraq as they build their own nation.

Hee, hee, with our new capital in Crawford!

All Hail Emperor Bush!

Hey; did you hear that? I think a libtard’s head just exploded.

hillbillyjim on July 3, 2008 at 5:55 PM

Wow. Thank you. Nice things you said.
The name comes from the province in China where my kids are adopted from.
Enjoy your holiday.

Am I missing something here?!?

KarmiCommunist on July 4, 2008 at 3:15 AM

Exactly what is your point? How about a straightforward declarative sentence putting forth your thoughts?

NBRA’s “Racist Democrats and Arrogant Obama” video had about 96 views four days ago…today, it has 405 views.

NBRA’s “Martin Luther King Was A Republican” video had about 1,800 views four days ago…today, it has 1,952 views.

Am I missing something here?!?

A “Black” Republican has to go through the crap that Secretary of State Rice and Justice Clarence Thomas go through everyday…probably everyday since they first claimed to be Republicans. Then there was…Colin.

How dare a “Black” Republican form or join something like the National Black Republican Association (NBRA)!!! That’s akin to starting or joining the CBC, for Karma’s sake! Sheesh!!!

The NBRA comes up with some ads…two, with a total of nine spots in them. What is that about?!?!? Two ads…Nine spots?

No one notices, other than the left, and the left promises to stop the ads. Is the right going to try and stop the left, from putting an end to those two ads with nine spots? How would they do it, if they pay no attention to the NBRA’s ads.

Why is the left even wasting their time? No “Black” media will show the ads. “White” media ignores them.

She should have been dragged off stage, and someone else taken over to sing the National Anthem. Someone, anyone. That dopey maayor, I’m almost sure, might have known the words.

Typical. Afterward, she probably thought: “What’d I do? What’d I do?”

I hope everyone has a good holiday tomorrow. We’re off to make birthday cupcakes for America. : ) Happy faces to all.

Seriously, you both acquitted yourselves very well, and for those of us on the sidelines, performed a valuable service. It is possible to disagree, and even screw up and misinterpret another’s post, and react on that misinterpretation, and so forth, and STILL remain civil. It’s just not easy.

Mistakes were made; so what? With the volatile subject matter at hand and the current political climate, I daresay I probably would have already contracted athlete’s tongue if I were thrust into the same debate under the same circumstances.

Baldilocks, I, along with many others it seems, look to you for your unique perspective and have been rewarded for doing so. You are a treasure to us all (even those who do not realize it.)

JiangxiDad, I always enjoy your take on current affairs, and find myself agreeing with you time and again. (On a side note, I am curious about your handle.) When I see some screen names in the corner of my eye, I skip or skim, but be sure I read for meaning when your name is there.

God Bless Us All and have a safe and Happy Independence Day.

P.S. Be good or Entelechy will flog you both with a hammer wrapped in lace.

You’re a good lady.

Thanks. Let’s try not to have any hard feelings, seriously, and thanks to our mutual friends at HA.

Shake.

JiangxiDad on July 3, 2008 at 4:00 PM

Shake.

baldilocks on July 3, 2008 at 4:01 PM

Ok, I go to a meeting and you two prove to me that I chose two great e-friends. I literally shed a few tears, and am now smiling.

Way to go. Buy Danish and I had a similar but different thing going and the only reason I bring it up is that today I respect her more than many on the nets and it’s mutual.

Now, get the hell out of here and celebrate this still great country of ours.

Are you guys married?

cntrlfrk on July 3, 2008 at 4:10 PM

Funny you should ask. I used exactly that experience to help me :)

baldilocks on July 3, 2008 at 4:01 PM

JiangxiDad on July 3, 2008 at 4:00 PM

Are you guys married?

Thanks. Let’s try not to have any hard feelings, seriously, and thanks to our mutual friends at HA.

Shake.

JiangxiDad on July 3, 2008 at 4:00 PM

Shake.

Sword sheathed. Will update my post.

baldilocks on July 3, 2008 at 3:56 PM

Thanks. Let’s try not to have any hard feelings, seriously, and thanks to our mutual friends at HA.

Shake.

Are you asking me or Entelechy?

baldilocks on July 3, 2008 at 3:47 PM

You

I am willing to leave this alone now if you would prefer.

JiangxiDad on July 3, 2008 at 3:46 PM

Are you asking me or Entelechy?