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I differ with you at least on one point. The Declaration cannot be reduced to a legal brief in the sense that it was not an appeal to the human law in its content. It did not argue “constitutionality”, but to a kind of universal morality which they claimed supported their actions. It was only because of the grievances that the king had committed that they were morally justified in their separation. But these listings of events related to the human law was not an appeal to that law.
With that in mind, the Dutch document that I referred to (which I have not read) would not have been a model of "Dutch legal theory" that Jefferson would have adopted, but rather a philosophically-grounded document that appealed to man's universal rights that Jefferson may have adopted. Clearly, the justification for revolting against one's government needed to be based in a coherent philosophical framework. As the Declaration states, "Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes...". In substance, the Dutch document could have offered such rational arguments which the American Colonists could have trusted as being echoes of man's universal rights. Taking arguments that were perceived to be morally legitimate from a past revolution with similar circumstances is actually quite plausible and would justify the Colonists in the eyes of God and of world opinion.
That said, I agree that scholars must be careful when connecting separate historical events/motives without more evidence than coincidence or tenuous linkage. I think that without such evidence, the question of Dutch influence remains a question, but it is an interesting topic of exploration.Interesting current events news – a news story circulated just last week about the possibility of another ice age that may be upon us because of – get this – water currents in the Atlantic Ocean, the same problem that scientists in the History Channel show believe caused the previous mini Ice Age. I don’t know if it was coincidence or intentional arrangement that the History Channel had its show on the topic a week before news broke about this being a real possibility.
Whatever the case, although such a mini Ice Age would have dramatic effects on the world, I think that mankind is much more capable of handling such climate changes than they were previously.So to summarize and distinguish the revolutions, perhaps it’s something like this:
American Revolution: Colonists motivated by religion; a desire to protect individual liberties; achieved by people whose rights were oppressed by a foreign monarch; achieved by a people who were self-governing in nature.
French Revolution: Citizens motivated by despisement for religion; individual liberties were not respected during the Revolution (i.e. massive death penalty use); achieved by a people who were at economic odds with a domestic monarch; achieved by a people who did not have the capability to govern themselves.
Avatar, your point of view is interesting because here in the U.S. there is a drive by many to reduce the role of "big government" because it's inefficient and bureaucratic. If a revolution were to have occurred in the U.K. as it did in the U.S., I wonder what the result would have been since you've had a strong central government for such a long time.I believe that Turkey is currently the only Islamic democracy in the world, and I’m not sure how it’s perceived in other Islamic countries. I can see your point that Iraq might be a shining example for other countries in the region down the road. This depends, though, on political and economic success. Political success builds a framework, and economic success will help defeat (what I consider to be) the main enemy of successful political systems – corruption.
In such a case, Iraq might be likened to an America where immigrants come to find a better life in a better system. One thing that might stand in the way of a shining Islamic democracy is a common hatred of Israel.To answer your question – no, I don’t think so, even if they do construct a “Checkpoint Khalid “. West Berlin was an oasis that became a symbol of freedom that people died trying to get into. The grip on Berlin was Communism, which people knew to be oppressive because it was a foreign imposition on half of the city. It doesn’t look like people of other Islamic countries will be leaving their homes to set up shop in Iraq for reasons of persecution. First, I doubt that others in that region consider their freedoms to be confined in the same way as that of Communist Berlin. Second, after the U.S. leaves Iraq, I wonder if persecutions will really cease and whether liberties will be ensured. Surely, one could forsee a situation where a democracy is established, but without the social and political advancements which have brought America or Britain forward over the past few hundred years. Think about legal and social advancements made in our country over the last 75 years or so.
There’s a tool called Google Scholar which allows you to search for academic papers. I did a quick check (“John P. Roche” +Constitution) and found an article written by JPR on the Constitution. I don’t know if it’ll help, but it may be worth it to read through his thoughts and try to break his views down so you can make a PPP out of it. Oh – and if you present it against the backdrop of mellow guitar strums by the middle-aged “John P. Roache” – well, all the more brownie points for you!
Which John P. Roche are you’re talking about? I’m guessing not the middle aged guitar player. Do you know the years he lived? If he’s still alive, where does he teach?
I agree with the writer. It seems like one of the long-term reasons why we’re in Iraq is to establish an “island of democracy” in the Islamic world which can hopefully break the grip power in that area that accomodates terrorists and rogue nation idealism. I hope that such stability is sustainable. The biggest problem, in my mind, is that this is a situation that has existed for many hundreds of years. Removing SH might be a temporary fix, but it’s uncertain as to whether American-friendly policies will be adopted in Iraq over the long-term. It’s up to the Iraqi people to do that.
That said, I really...hope...we don't get....accused of.....copyright....infringement......for the posting of the entire article here.
There's a good guide on copyright and fair use on this website.I don’ t know that I’ve read any John P. Roach, and the Constitution is a very broad topic. If you have to do a powerpoint presentation, I’m guessing you’re focussing on some narrow theme, right? A presentation could easily be given on topics such as separation of powers, the Bill of Rights (as a group or individually), the Commerce Clause, etc.
So what was your final conclusion in the paper? What influenced the change in grave around around 1790?
Having not yet read Hard Times – but having some other familiarity with Dickens (after all, it’s said that he repeats the same novel) I imagine that your question about the author would be answered in the affirmative. The most obvious example of his criticisms of capitalism’s excess can be found in the classic A Christmas Carol. Along with the rise of the factory came the rise of the corporation, which shifted local business responsibility away from community-orientation and toward loyalty to distant corporate board members and shareholders. In retrospect, the coporation was key – say for the growth of the U.S. economy – but it would be easy to see how its popularity would have alienated many in the 19th Century working class.
That's a good last set of questions you pose. Just as the Industrial Revolution had its critics, the Information Revolution is sure to have its critics as well, but we might have to wait another 50 years to know which are classics from early 21st Century literature address existing problems. I remember a friend of mine - back in 1995 or 1996 - who lambasted the microcosyms people lived in because of the internet. I think that is true today. Feelings of responsibility and belonging to one's community (because one works in that community) could very well weaken as a global e-commerce mentality develops. Think about this - in the Middle Ages, we might be discussing history in some Florentine bar while drinking our swill; in the 19th Century, we might live in the same town and exchange our ideas via pamphletting or by writing bulletins which are posted at the town center; today, we discuss thoughts and events on an internet forum while we are separated by thousands of miles.
There is far less reliance on our geographic neighbors than ever before, and there is little local interdependence.I have never read his books, but I have seen The Name of the Rose, which I thought had a very intriguing storyline. Didn’t Eco have some non fiction-authoring job before he wrote that book?
For some essays on what it was like for the original Thanksgiving celebrators at the Plymouth colony, read the Plimoth Plantation website offerings.
I came across the site for the Old Burial Hill in Marblehead, Massachusetts, and there were some interesting, good quality images of tombstones there, including ones with the skull + wings and then with the willow + urn. Among the sadder epitaphs was one for Mrs. Hannah Nowland (1793):
All you that doth my grave pass by,
As you are now so once was I,
As I am now so you must be,
Prepare for death & follow me.
