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July 12, 2012
Jefferson On Burke's Reflections on the Revolution in France
When I see the spirit of liberty in action, I see a strong principle at work; and this, for a while, is all I can possibly know of it. The wild gas, the fixed air is plainly broke loose: but we ought to suspend our judgement until the first effervescence is a little subsided, till the liquor is cleared, and until we see something deeper than the agitation of a troubled and frothy surface. == Thomas Jefferson: Radical and Racist - 96.10Posted by gerardvanderleun at July 12, 2012 8:35 AM. This is an entry on the sideblog of American Digest: Check it out.
Your Say
So I read through O'Brien's piece.
I commend Gerard for linking to it, despite the author's blatant bias and distortion about "right-wingers."
O'Brien is guilty of "presentism" in condemming Jefferson for his "flaws." Jefferson was a man of his time, and those of us with a genuine sense of history are OK with that.
Posted by: Don Rodrigo at July 12, 2012 11:08 AM
Terrific article. Jefferson and Hamilton were the most dangerous men among the Founders, and no less indispensibe for that quality. It is more important to understand a great man's faults than it is those of lesser men.
It may be that what disturbs O'Brien most about Jefferson is not that he was racist, but that he may not have been entirely wrong.
Posted by: james wilson at July 12, 2012 11:29 AM
Pleazzzzz. What other president was a statesman, architect, farmer, writer, and a man who loved and help found a country ? We need leaders like this.
Just list any of the early leaders qualifications, and think what we have now.
Posted by: Grace at July 13, 2012 8:50 PM