Tuesday, July 04, 2006

Journal Entry, July 4, 1776

I am prompted to issue my thoughts regarding a pamphlet I was encouraged to read by one of my customers. I am a locksmith in Massapequa, a small town on Long Island and make quite a good living with considerable trade between the colonies and England. Of late I’ve noticed a resentment, even going past resentment to brutal acts of treachery by those put in place by King George to oversee our fledgling governmental affairs. Only last week a new tax was imposed, supposedly to assist the minister of trade; while in fact the tax was a punishment for having done business with the French.

I mentioned that I’d read a pamphlet, nothing unusual about pamphlets as they seem to be printed and distributed easily, their cost having been reduced to such a ridiculously low level as to make anyone with half a thought the master of his own editorial whims; however, now and again I have come across ideas which strike a chord, a resonating tone that seems to condense our collective concerns, at least as we consider our union with England and the continued neglect our King and his quartermasters have imposed upon us.

Thomas Paine has written a new pamphlet, Common Sense, in the which he has defined quite clearly the need for us to act as a unified body, aware of the usurpations which have heretofore been imposed on a once loyal colony of Englishmen; but now have been estranged and are left with few options, nay, but one option if we are to hold our heads high before our families, our neighbors and before our God. We must abandon hope of ever being addressed as anything but unworthy subjects of the King, of ever achieving equal status as Englishmen with rights shared by anyone other than those living here in these back water townships.

It has been established that gatherings to discuss our plight are now outlawed, those attending face grave consequence; loss of property, confinement and even death for uttering seditious words against the Crown. Is it seditious to desire equality of rights from a government which treats some citizens better than others? I ask only for those rights granted to other common men, no more, no less. If this is treason then I am a traitor.

[This post was inspired by a great meme started by Jim of
bRight & Early: "It's July 1776, but there's one difference — blogs, including yours. What would your post be for July 4th, 1776 not from today's perspective, but if 'you were there'?" If you want to participate, just write one and trackback to Jim's post. ]

Thanks and a tip of the hat also for DL at TMH Bacon Bits. http://tmhbaconbits.net/
(His article, All for naught, is linked via the title bar)

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