The Founders Gave Us a Gift – We Should Use It

Politics has always been fraught with passion, even during the early days of our republic, as far back as 1856 in one of the lesser- known instances of ‘passionate political disagreement’, Preston Brooks, a member of the House of Representatives and a pro-slavery Democrat from South Carolina, used his walking cane to attack Senator Charles Sumner, an abolitionist Republican Senator from Massachusetts.

Our representatives may not be physically caning each other these days, but how many articles did we read, or news shows did we watch during the lead up to the recent holiday that talked about “getting through Thanksgiving dinner” without discussing politics?  And wasn’t it Mark Twain who chided “Never discuss politics or religion in polite company”?  Yes, it was but that was the perspective of a humorist, personally I prefer adhering to the words of Thomas Jefferson who once wrote, “I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend.”

Political commentator Judd Garrett recently penned a piece titled Happy Thanksgiving! where he addresses this matter with his unusual clarity and perspicacity; “Let me get this straight: tens of thousands of soldiers stormed the beaches at Normandy to protect our rights, such as freedom of speech, and we are going to self-censor? Talking politics and religion openly and freely is saying ‘thank you’ to every person who laid down their life to protect our rights to do just that.”

I agree with Mr. Garrett whole-heartedly and trying to ‘get through’ a Thanksgiving dinner without talking about politics after a presidential election is not only akin to having an elephant in the room, but it’s also an insult to what the Founders bequeathed to us.   Not only that, but as a practical matter, with our ever-present 24/7 news coverage, it’s virtually impossible to ignore politics because it touches upon just about every aspect of our daily lives.  As Pericles told us nearly 2,500 years ago, “Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn’t mean politics won’t take an interest in you.”

I agree with Garrett that we should be down on our knees in thanks to live in a constitutional republic where freedom of speech, freedom of expression, freedom of religion & freedom of the press are all protected – a dynamic that has never existed anywhere on earth until 55 wise men came together in Philadelphia in the summer of 1787 to craft what is arguably the most significant social document ever created – the United States Constitution.

The landscape of human history is replete with people who were subjects of kings, dictators, despots and oligarchs and have no idea of what it means to live as a free person with the unalienable rights that we enjoy.  Yet, we’re not to discuss politics with family & friends?

~ Sad but True ~

The day after the election a very dear and long-time friend emailed one of his screeds about how Trump was an existential threat to our country, closing with the admonition, “Please don’t respond to this email as I need some space from all this bull…t.”  I didn’t realize a man who was awarded a Silver Star, a Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts needed a safe space because he disagreed with the results of an election.

My friend is intelligent, engaging and the type of person anyone would want as a friend.  He prides himself on having an open mind and belongs to a men’s group comprised of 7 other professionals, several of whom are nationally recognized, who meet weekly to discuss everything from marital matters to our changing climate to the federal reserve.  But what my long-time friend fails to grasp is that he doesn’t belong to a 21^st century version of the famous Algonquin Round Table that met daily for lunch at the Algonquin Hotel in New York for nearly 50 years and was noted for its lively, witty, and sophisticated conversation regarding political and social causes.  Rather, my friend and his cohorts meet in an echo chamber, which in actuality is more akin to a North Korean re-education camp with breaks for Starbucks coffee and of course, sans the armed guards.

Discussing politics & policy interests me because the welfare of the nation that I too once donned a uniform to defend interests me.  And being able to discuss matters with those whom we disagree is exactly what the Founders envisioned when they enshrined the First Amendment in the Bill of Rights.   Contrary to the drumbeat from the left, diversity, equity and inclusion aren’t the bedrock of our nation’s strength – rather it’s our freedoms as enshrined in the First Amendment and we are more than foolish when we fail to take advantage of it.

Quote of the day: “Fallacies do not cease to be fallacies because they become fashions.”—G.K. Chesterton