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Thomas Jefferson

Philosophy of Thomas Jefferson

What are your thoughts about the quote below:

"The people cannot be all, and always, well informed. The part which is wrong will be discontented, in proportion to the importance of the facts they misconceive. If they remain quiet under such misconceptions, it is lethargy, the forerunner of death to the public liberty. ... And what country can preserve its liberties, if it's rulers are not warned from time to time, that this people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms."
-- Thomas Jefferson

Jefferson Thomas

Thomas Jefferson obviously had an attitude of negotiation using force of armament. I for one do not appreciate this type of negotiation and am in favor of peaceful dialog with those who would trample on human rights. It is my understanding that human rights are the foundation of state laws. As citizens we are called to be active in the pursuit of just laws for the protection of human rights. When those rights are not being protected, it is far better for us to seek out those who would abandon the rights of the afflicted to expose their callousness publicly and to persuade men of good will to act on behalf of the oppressed to establish a just law that will protect the innocent and downtrodden.

Using armament to accomplish what should be peaceful negotiation is in and of itself demonstrates a callousness which would not hesitate to deprive others of their basic human right to peace and prosperity.

Were Thomas Jefferson alive today, I would debate his reasoning directly with him. As he no longer lives, his reasoning dies with him.

Our current President elect, Barrack Obama has stated his intention to negotiate peacefully which I will take his promise at face value until such time as he proves himself callous also. Leadership must first of all value peace. Without peace, there is no intent of protection of human rights, no matter who is our leader.

Thomas Jefferson was not the only President who led us to violent negotiation of human rights, many more followed after him and I hold none of them in high esteem, rather consider the cause of their debasement as victims of hateful attitudes toward their own kind.

Edited: royalosiodha on 29th Dec, 2009 - 1:18pm

Thomas Jefferson History & Civil Business Politics

I agree that the raising of arms against our enemies is not always in the best judgment, but I believe Jefferson is trying to relay a different message here. I don't see him putting himself out there as a violent man, just one who understands that the majority of those who are going to deny you your civil liberties will not listen to much of your reasoning. Perhaps because the cries fall on deaf ears, or most likely rather, they have already considered and dismissed your side of the argument. Someone prone to such acts most likely hasn't a care in their head to consider the plight of the governed. In these situations, force may be the only thing able to clear a point across the table.

Upon further consideration, perhaps he is merely suggesting the people let their government understand their knowledge of and willingness to protect their rights, if need be.

Jefferson Thomas

He also said that rebels and tyrants are the manure for the tree of true Democracy. It is the way of it that every 20 years or so revolutions will rise against tyrants. Their blood is what feeds the democratic machine.

I may not be 100% on that but it is very close to what he said.

I think this is his way of saying that America is a work in progress. That we are striving to obtain a greatness that cannot be obtained. He recognized that power corrupts and that the people will rise up against that corruption. I think what he is in fact encouraging is the people to not be afraid or ashamed to revolt against tyranny when it presents itself. It is the process in which our democracy grows.

I think if he were alive now he would be leading a revolution against the current government and corporations.

Also he had a very interesting view on slavery and African Americans. He thought African Americans could not learn or achieve enlightenment at the level of white people. I think this is most unfortunate for him to take this stance but I do not think he was wrong in saying this.

At his time African Americans had been completely uneducated. So I am sure it would appear to him in his generation that they were in fact not as able as whites to become truly educated. Though he also stated and wrote in the declaration of independence all men are created equal (and himself wished for slaves to be free). Yet at the time he understood forcing his view on this would compromise his stance on many other important issues, so he let it drop.

We now know African Americans are just as able to become enlightened and as highly educated as whites. However for him and his time this process had just begun.

Edited: Oliron on 22nd Apr, 2010 - 12:11am

Jefferson Thomas

"I hope we shall take warning from the example of England and crush in its birth the aristocracy of our moneyed corporations which dare already to challenge our Government to trial, and bid defiance to the laws of our country."
-- Thomas Jefferson - (1743-1826), US Founding Father, drafted the Declaration of Independence, 3rd US President

Thomas Jefferson

I was thinking about this today. Ever seen an Ad for one of the candidates for any office?

EX:
Vote Me!
----*----
Republican/Democrat

Yet for some reason they're mad when they don't get elected because the public just doesn't stay informed Just a thought though.

Thomas Jefferson

I think Oliron said it correctly. While Jefferson was a firm believer in taking up arms against those who would persecute the people his reasons I feel are just. IF we as a people sit on our collective behinds and just let others do as they will with our government and our laws we will as a whole give up a lot of what our fore fathers first gave us. Those fundamental rights that they laid down their lives to give us. We may have to follow Jeffersons advise and retake up arms to get this government back where it belongs. I believe that is what the tea party is all about. The nice thing is they are trying to do it in a peaceful manner and that may be all it takes. When Jefferson said the people remain quiet then the government does not understand the problems. SO if we want a real change to occur then we the people of this great nation should rise up and take arms with knowledge and words and get the representatives that we placed in the government to take heed and change things for the betterment of the people of face being thrown out of office. Yeah we can do this the peaceful way but what if the peaceful way fails? What is next then?

Thomas Jefferson Politics Business Civil & History

"If once [the people] become inattentive to the public affairs, you and I, and Congress and Assemblies, Judges and Governors, shall all become wolves. It seems to be the law of our general nature, in spite of individual exceptions."
-- Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), 3rd US President