So as you Bar-B-Que or go to the lake, take a moment and honor our Greatest Generation, the Founders!

I want to, therefore, share with you General Eisenhower’s message to his soldiers just prior to their mission:

Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force! You are about to embark upon a great crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty loving people everywhere march with you. In company with our brave Allies and brothers in arms on other fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.

Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped and battle hardened, he will fight savagely.

But this is the year 1944! Much has happened since the Nazi triumphs of 1940-41. The United Nations have inflicted upon the Germans great defeats, in open battle, man to man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced their strength in the air and their capacity to wage war on the ground. Our home fronts have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men. The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to victory!

I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full victory!

Good Luck! And let us all beseech the blessings of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.

– Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower

I have already addressed the fact that Natural Law was the essential influence in the Declaration and the Constitution. That in itself establishes that the United States of America was founded on principles that flowed from Christian doctrine.

But nonetheless, lets look at this notion that somehow, in the aftermath of the Great Awakening and George Whitefield (who deserves credit for influencing some –if not many– of those Founders such as Samuel Adams), and an era of what some would call today fanatical religious tendencies, that miraculously the Founders were not Christians and at best Deists. By the way, though I think it could be fair to declare some of the Founders as Deists, by definition they stilled believed in God and called themselves, as you will see, Christian. A Deists simply rejects the notion that God intervenes in human affairs (more of a by product of the Enlightenment). This is a reaction, during the 18th and early 19th Centuries, when many rejected the “dogma” of religious institutions; not God.

It would take more time than I am willing and able here to tackle each Founder in one shot, so for this first installment I will tackle two of the prominent Founders that are pointed to as “not Christian”: Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin.

THOMAS JEFFERSON
The man is a riddle, an enigma, and wrapped in a … vortex, or however the saying goes. I love Jefferson. For all his imperfections in modern eyes, he was still perfect in so many other ways. If it is true that Texas has taken him out or reduced his importance, than I am no fan of their new curriculum.

Let me take you back to 1803, Jefferson is into his second year as President. He had been mauled by the Federalists as being essentially an atheist. (I love how pundits today act like the political shenanigans of today are somehow new!) He wrote what is the best letter that I have found concerning his Christianity or lack there of. The letter was to his esteemed Friend Dr. Benjamin Rush (April 21, 1803) and in it Jefferson was clearly reflective on his record as a Christian, and was writing in response to a long standing promise — apparently — to Rush regarding his (Jefferson) stance on Religion and his religious beliefs.

Jefferson started off by stating, first and foremost, “I am a Christian…” and then he qualifies it, but the statement is clear. Now I can stop there and say, “bring it on,” but sense I know there are those who will have the, “yeah buts,” I will continue. [read letter here if you would like.]

Jefferson’s convictions were indeed complex, which is what one would expect with such a complex thinker. Jefferson continued in this letter, but did so hesitantly as he iterates: “I know it will not be expressed to the malignant perversions of those who make every word from me a text for new misrepresentations and calumnies.” Jefferson did not know it, but even today there are those with political motivations (like the Federalists) to essentially demonize him by misrepresenting and distorting a few of his words here or there.

Yet Jefferson is complicated and that cannot be denied. Just read the letter noted above and you will see how three dimensional his mind worked. But to say he was not a Christian is a gross and “malignant perversion” of his words.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
To me Franklin is the key as those who insist that the Founders were not Christian point lovingly to Franklin as the poster child for their argument. Indeed, some of his thoughts and writings can be taken out of context and used to give the impression that he was not a Christian and did not care for religion. He probably did not care for the Church, the institution and did so for reasons he clearly articulated.

Franklin was a child of the Enlightenment and viewed Christianity through that prism. Franklin was a pragmatist and had no tolerance for religious persecution of one religion over another. The “dogma” as he called it. He believed in free will but also wrote very clearly that God, a supreme being, was benevolent and powerful. He believed in Natural Law and also believed in tolerance and utility with regard to living a Christian life. What Franklin did not want was a Preacher telling him how and why he ought to believe in God. [Source: Papers of Benjamin Franklin; also, see Walter Isaacson, "Benjamin Franklin: An American Life," Simon & Shuster, 2003; 84-88.]

Final Note, this government website has an array of documents regarding the dedication of Jefferson, Madison, ect., and their religious convictions come Sundays. Strange how non-Christian folks such as Jefferson and Madison would bother dedicating, religiously, their Sundays to God and church.

Next Segment: Washington and John Adams

Wishing you a happy Memorial Day!

The conflict in culture has not just been between Whites and whoever else, the Irish, Germans and Italians were all discriminated against on some level during their migration here. Somehow they dealt with it. Anyway, I digress.

State Schools Superintendent Tom Horne debates his new controversial legislation that removes “race” based programs from Arizona schools in order “to get schools to teach kids to treat each other as individuals,” he says, is the key. Mr. Horne is interesting as he was a part of the March on Washington and claims that his law is based on Martin Luther King’s famous words that we should be judged by our character and not on our skin color. This video below is very interesting as the exchange brings up a lot of important points. La Raza is an organization, as we have seen, that can be very radical and is completely the opposite of what Dr. King would preach. Nonetheless, there are some issues with Mr. Horne’s legislation as there are some very good teen/school groups that do address the needs of a specific “race” of people and in peaceful and inclusive ways that will not be able to meet under this law.

I agree with Mr. Horne that we need to focus less on race, on exclusion, and to be “inclusive” and focus on individuals and the greatness of this country that provides such opportunity that all races flock here for some strange reason… you know, considering all our racism.

CW

I came across this and thought I would share:

“The Way to Wealth” (1758)

“Friends,” says he [Father Abraham], “and Neighbours, the Taxes are indeed very heavy, and if those laid on by the Government were the only Ones we had to pay, we might more easily discharge them; but we have many others, and much more grievous to some of us. We are taxed twice as much by our Idleness, three times as much by our Pride, and four times as much by our Folly; and from these Taxes the Commissioners cannot ease or deliver us by allowing an Abatement. However let us hearken to good Advice, and something may be done for us; God helps them that help themselves, as Poor Richard says, in his Almanack of 1733.

“It would be thought a hard Government that should tax its People one-tenth Part of their Time, to be employed in its Service. But Idleness taxes many of us much more, if we reckon all that is spent in absolute Sloth, or doing of nothing, with that which is spent in idle Employments or Amusements, that amount to nothing. Sloth, by bringing on Diseases, absolutely shortens Life. Sloth, like Rust, consumes faster than Labour wears; while the used Key is always bright, as Poor Richard says. But dost thou love Life, then do not squander Time, for that’s the stuff Life is made of, as Poor Richard says. How much more than is necessary do we spend in sleep, forgetting that The sleeping Fox catches no Poultry, and that There will be sleeping enough in the Grave, as Poor Richard says.

“Time be of all Things the most precious, wasting Time must be, as Poor Richard says, the greatest Prodigality; since, as he elsewhere tells us, Lost Time is never found again; and what we call Time enough, always proves little enough: Let us then up and be doing, and doing to the Purpose; so by Diligence shall we do more with less Perplexity. Sloth makes all Things difficult, but Industry all easy, as Poor Richard says; and He that riseth late must trot all Day, and shall scarce overtake his Business at Night; while Laziness travels so slowly, that Poverty soon overtakes him, as we read in Poor Richard, who adds, Drive thy Business, let not that drive thee; and Early to Bed, and early to rise, makes a Man healthy, wealthy, and wise.

“So what signifies wishing and hoping for better Times. We may make these Times better, if we bestir ourselves. Industry need not wish, as Poor Richard says, and he that lives upon Hope will die fasting. There are no Gains without Pains; then Help Hands, for I have no Lands, or if I have, they are smartly taxed. And, as Poor Richard likewise observes, He that hath a Trade hath an Estate; and he that hath a Calling, hath an Office of Profit and Honour; but then the Trade must be worked at, and the Calling well followed, or neither the Estate nor the Office will enable us to pay our Taxes. If we are industrious, we shall never starve; for, as Poor Richard says, At the working Man’s House Hunger looks in, but dares not enter. Nor will the Bailiff or the Constable enter, for Industry pays Debts, while Despair encreaseth them, says Poor Richard. What though you have found no Treasure, nor has any rich Relation left you a Legacy, Diligence is the Mother of Good-luck as Poor Richard says and God gives all Things to Industry. Then plough deep, while Sluggards sleep, and you shall have Corn to sell and to keep, says Poor Dick. Work while it is called To-day, for you know not how much you may be hindered To-morrow, which makes Poor Richard say, One to-day is worth two To-morrows, and farther, Have you somewhat to do To-morrow, do it To-day. If you were a Servant, would you not be ashamed that a good Master should catch you idle? Are you then your own Master, be ashamed to catch yourself idle, as Poor Dick says. When there is so much to be done for yourself, your Family, your Country, and your gracious King, be up by Peep of Day; Let not the Sun look down and say, Inglorious here he lies. Handle your Tools without Mittens; remember that The Cat in Gloves catches no Mice, as Poor Richard says. ’Tis true there is much to be done, and perhaps you are weak-handed, but stick to it steadily; and you will see great Effects, for Constant Dropping wears away Stones, and by Diligence and Patience the Mouse ate in two the Cable; and Little Strokes fell great Oaks, as Poor Richard says in his Almanack, the Year I cannot just now remember.”

In the book Teaching for Social Justice: A Democracy and Education Reader (New Press, Spring 1998), which I bought and read, Ayers and other teachers and professors outline Best Practice methods for teaching social justice. (There are also numerous books, groups, associations, and conferences today that deal with Social Justice and take their lead from Ayers and Howard Zinn.)

Here are some of the highlights:

Ayers in his “Introduction” proclaims, “The teachers [of social justice] … reject the old objectivist approach” to teaching and replace it with the values of social justice where all around us are nothing but injustices such as racism, sexism, classism, ect. Lots of “isms” which the teaching of Social Justice seem to use. All around us, according to this view and this instruction method, is inequality and oppression. As I have already pointed out here and here, their goal is not objectivity or neutrality in the classroom. They are the disciplines of Howard Zinn and believe that objectivity is irresponsible when faced with the supposed racist and oppressive society we live in. Remember, it is so bad here in the United States, in terms of injustice, that people from other countries are flocking here?

Everything, every topic, seemingly falls under the umbrella of “Teaching for Social Justice.” For example, Environmental Justice is a large part of it as well as Economic Justice, and this ultimately leads to the teaching of socialism and the redistribution of wealth, energy, and resources. William Ayers clearly states it is their goal to educate through “collective action” and for the good of the collective. All under the guise of teaching for “social justice and democracy.”

The book also talks openly about the “Progressive” origins of the movement going back to the Progressive Education Association of the 1930s. The book is filled with nuances of “collective undertaking” and social reform for the greater good. The themes of socialism and progressivism are right there, openly encouraged and acknowledged. No conspiracies, as conspiracies are “secret” designs and not out in the open. This is a movement for “change,” and one we can believe in.

Some great discussions thus far and focused on, for example, the Spanish-American War, Progressivism, Women’s suffrage movement, Teddy Roosevelt’s presidency, ect.

I focused on 1904:

In December 1904 while addressing Congress President Teddy Roosevelt established what would become the “Roosevelt Corollary.” In this address Roosevelt declared that the United States must “exercise” its influence in the Western Hemisphere and join Europe as an “international police power,” or in other words an Imperial power. [1] Roosevelt’s “Big Stick” policy established the United States as truly a world power. The Spanish-American War of 1898, though a sweeping victory, did not establish the U.S. as a world player. It was a first step, and so it could be looked to as that defining moment.

However, I look to Roosevelt and his presidency as our ascendancy into the 20th Century. Roosevelt was our first Progressive president, an imperialist, and a visionary. His leadership expanded American influence, power, and prestige to such a degree that we became a modern imperialistic state. The Great White fleet alone by 1907 (initiated by Roosevelt by 1903), one could argue, was a unprecedented event for a nation dedicated to neutrality since its creation.

Economically, by 1904, the U.S. was becoming an industrial giant on an unprecedented scale. The mid-1890s was a depression wrecked economy, however, by 1904 the U.S. was experiencing an economic boom. The nation’s GDP double during the first decade of the century. Additionally, with the likes of Rockefeller, Carnegie, and JP Morgan, American industry was a giant. Rockefeller would become the first billionaire at this time. By 1900 the U.S. was the largest producer of steel in the world. Huge trusts had resulted in super corporations that established the U.S. as the leading industrial giant in the world. [2]

In foreign policy the early 1900s proved to be the awakening point for the U.S. as men had come to power who had their eye on growing American power and influence. Not just Roosevelt, though he was the key, however he joined John Jay,Secretary of State, Henry Cabot Lodge, influential thinkers such as Alfred T. Mahan, the Navial theorist who encouraged Roosevelt to develop a strong naval force and who probably first used the term “Middle East” in an article in the National Review about foreign policy illustrating how far the U.S. had come in international relations by 1904. Without the Great White fleet initiative and a strong navy, the U.S. was a second rate power without a visionary like Roosevelt.[3]

Back to my story, waiting there in my classroom was Gustaf, a foreign exchange student from Sweden. A nice young man and whom I have gotten to know and think very highly of. He is socialist, comes from a socialist country where they have government run universal health care. Gustaf greeted me as he usually does with a question or two about what today’s lesson might entail. I was not myself and he sensed it, so in his broken but yet very good English he asked, “So you watched the Congress last night?”

Apparently Gustaf’s host family had. We had a 10 minute or so discussion on the Sunday evening events and he then said something remarkable to me: “Mr. Wehner, the health care bill does not seem very American. I don’t understand how America would want to do this.” He spoke of our ideals and values which he learned in his U.S. Government class — which I DID NOT teach.

Sweden is a country of about 9 million and according to Gustaf they pay very high taxes and the health care is not bad. But he wondered out loud, “how will it work for 300+ million?” Good question, I replied.

Though our conversation did not end with an enlightened discovery of what the future will hold, it did nonetheless brighten my mood and lift my spirits. We are exceptional and even to a socialist — a good kid who recognizes the greatness of our country while those spoiled by her freedoms cannot.

Also, I found this national address from President Ronald Reagan and thought I would share. I have a new website in the works for history teachers and well, will speak more about that later.

This is for all Americans and for all who teach American history.