Posted by Kenneth Watkins
“The real man smiles in trouble, gathers strength from distress, and grows brave by reflection.”
In today’s political climate it seems these words ring more true now than when I said them. As I look at everything that goes through the political process I tend to wonder how these people would survive during my day. Political pundits are much different now than when we went through the political process, but in the end we all are trying to reach the same result. Thus even when in trouble we smile to hide what maybe become of us later in life. I guess in reality it all comes down to common sense and what we believe in.
Monday, November 20, 2006
Posted by Tom Schueneman
With regret, this will be the last post this editor will make to this blog. Due to circumstances beyond my control, I now find it necessary to leave the history blogger project sponsored by WorldHistory.com.
I wish all my fellow bloggers that continue to hang in there at WorldHistory.com the best.
For those that have visited this Tom Paine blog I thank you. I invite you to visit my new Thomas Paine blog where we will continue to explore how the words of great thinkers and writers of the past like Thomas Paine relate to today’s world. We’ll also have news feeds, commentary, educational articles and more.
I have thoroughly enjoyed writing this blog and hope to make ThomasPaineBlog.org even better! Please join me as I embark on this new adventure.
As Thomas Paine said: We have it in our power to begin the world over again.
Thank you -
Thomas Schueneman
Managing Editor
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Posted by Tom Schueneman
“A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance of being right.”
Bad habits of thought cloud our judgement and our ability to perceive what is right.
Comments by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan this week reflect back to Thomas Paine’s words. Speaking in Nairobi, Kenya at a United National Climate Change Conference, Annan warned that continued inaction in coming to terms with the reality of global warming and climate change threaten grave consequences for global security.
From health to food supply to coastal flooding and raging weather rarely seen before, the long habit of thinking our current ways of doing business in this world poses no threat for the future - the near future - can only be superficial and not a reflection of the true nature of our situation.
Such issues were not even imagined in Tom Paine’s day. The Industrial Revolution had barely begun. And while Paine railed against organized religion, he professed a belief in God. And he found his God in nature. What would he think today as he watched our headlong descent into fouling the very expression of God, and thus the very foundation of civilization?
thomas paine climate change environment united nations
Friday, November 10, 2006
Posted by Tom Schueneman
“I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. ‘Tis the business of little minds to shrink, but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death.”
So long Mr. Bradley, you were one of the good ones, and we shall miss you.
thomas paine ed bradley 60 minutes
Friday, November 10, 2006
Posted by Tom Schueneman
It is the nature and intention of a constitution to prevent governing by party, by establishing a common principle that shall limit and control the power and impulse of party, and that says to all parties, thus far shalt thou go and no further. But in the absence of a constitution, men look entirely to party; and instead of principle governing party, party governs principle.
Republicans as well as Democrats would do well to heed these words of Thomas Paine, written in Paris in 1795.
It may very well be that the GOP so decisively turned out of the majority in Congress ran straight into the common principal Paine speaks of that ultimately limits abuses of power and impulses the excesses of party.
To many it is a relief that with a new party in the majority, a sense of balance may be restored. Party serving principal, instead of its opposite.
But pendulums do swing, and those that are elected can forget their hard won fights, their years in the political wilderness, and the promises made to those that elected them.
The frailties of man and the temptations of power can erode the ideals and good intentions of anyone, of any party.
And it is the highest grace bestowed upon us as a nation that the men of Thomas Paine’s generation created the founding principals of our government in the Constitution of the United States. It is by the light of this document that we survive as a nation of free men and women. And we shall remain free only as long as we protect and preserve it.
And so to the reader I ask; did you vote?
thomas paine election political party congress power elections democracy senate voting constitution
Posted by Tom Schueneman
“Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it”
Is a danger in a free and individualistic society that too much of it breeds complacency? Many eligible voters don’t bother to vote because they feel it doesn’t make any difference – or just couldn’t be bothered.
Perhaps at some point the individual, if for no other reason than to support and protect his own individual freedom, must participate in the collective society of which he or she is a member. Otherwise, doesn’t complacency lead to neglect and neglect to atrophy?
And then we are no longer free.
It is at our own peril that we take the right to vote for granted. Vote tomorrow. Make Thomas Paine proud.
thomas paine vote get out the vote democracy
Posted by Tom Schueneman
“Character is much easier kept than recovered.”
On Wednesday, Ted Haggard was a prominent leader in the Evangelical movement and Senior Pastor of The New Life Church. A man of purported high moral character.
On Thursday and Friday Mr. Haggard’s association with a gay prostitute and his purchase of methamphetamine came to light. Even if only for a massage (the prostitute) and out of curiosity (the meth), his character - his life’s work - must be severely damaged in the embarrassing episode.
Tom Paine didn’t much like preachers and organized religion. But all people, the devoutly religious and the firmly nonreligious as well, should find in Mr. Haggard’s troubles a cautionary tale. For anyone that feels themselves above the frailties of human existence and immune from its vicissitudes, and judges others as if from a superior moral plane, are doomed to find the error of their ways, and immersed in the very thing they abhor.
thomas paine religion ted haggard new life church current events
Wednesday, November 1, 2006
Posted by Tom Schueneman
“When an objection cannot be made formidable, there is some policy in trying to make it frightful; and to substitute the yell and the war-whoop, in the place of reason, argument and good order.”
No political party is immune from the tendency of raising the spectre of fear when its policies are questioned, and most notably when its power is challenged - but can it be taken too far, to the detriment of the national interest?
There is no doubt that we live in dangerous times. It is all too easy to simply live in fear and thus isolate from new ideas and alternative views. During his time, as the new republic was still finding its way in the world, debate was often rancorous and bitter. If he were to look out on the current political landscape, what would Tom Paine think now of the state of American Democracy?
Wednesday, November 1, 2006
Posted by Tom Schueneman
“To argue with a man who has renounced his reason is like giving medicine to the dead.”
May we all find reason as we prepare to due our civic duty - just as Thomas Paine would have wanted.
thomas paine politics the crisis elections
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Posted by Tom Schueneman
…the Creation we behold is the real and ever existing word of God, in which we cannot be deceived. It proclaimeth his power, it demonstrates his wisdom, it manifests his goodness and beneficence
Completing the message from last week, wondering what Paine might have thought, given his deist tendancies, had he been forturnate enough to visit the Yosemite Valley.
Surely, had he seen it, his faith in God’s word as expressed in nature would have soared like the Granite peaks of Yosemite itself.
Not severing completely our connection to the natural world is a continuing struggle that remains current to our times; even more so than in Paine’s day. The wonders of creation must surely be a gift from God. Are we proper stewards of such a gift?
thomas paine age of reason nature natural world deist deism yosemite sierra nevada