In my view, the greatest of America’s “Founding Fathers” was not Washington or Jefferson – nor, technically, he wasn’t even an American. Rather, he was a British immigrant and itinerate agitator for real democracy, enlightenment, and universal human rights.
Congratulations on receiving the Thomas Paine award.
Used to be if one was associated with the military it was assumed you were a conservative Republican. It's great to see as time goes on more of us veterans are opposing the craziness of the MAGA insanity and are speaking out. I'm retired after 20 years in the Naval Reserve and live in Florida. Who knew there was a veteran's group in Florida with the Core Values: Liberty, Equality, Democracy, and Human Rights
Thanks for introducing me to the Florida Veterans for Common Sense. I joined.
After reading "Common Sense", it became quite apparent that not only was Tom Paine the most influential of the founders, but that he had to deal with basically the same issues we face today: a hunger for freedom and a willingness to fight for it on one hand; fear of the future, unwillingness to give up privileges, craven submission to the power elite of the day (the British Empire) on the other hand. What Paine does is give us a blueprint on how to use the power of the people, if we are willing to own it. We love the guy! Thanks for sharing your opinion, Jim!
Join me and others en route to Bordentown, New Jersey to see a statue honoring Paine. It's designed to prompt the visitor to read (or reread) quotes from "Common Sense". I read aloud.
Right on! Thomas Paine was a true progressive! I only wish the physical book had a larger font for those of us who might prefer to read without the aid of an electron microscope! He makes me proud to be an American, unlike many of the slave-owning-and-procreating landowners who were our "founding fathers" ... So yea, bravo & kudos to Thomas Paine, and to his spiritual great great grandson, you, Jim!
Thomas Paine has always been my favorite of the "Founding Fathers", because he embodied the inclusive spirit of democracy that Jefferson, Adams, Washington, et al. lacked.
Building on that concept, I think, is a newly-published book by Ian Shapiro, Uncommon Sense, which I've not had the opportunity to read (published in, I think, January, and the paperback already is sold out, while the hardbound sells for an outlandish $110!), but which purportedly suggests that the same processes that Paine suggested for realizing his vision of democracy actually could work today.
Your the man Jim. Thank you, I remember learning about common sense in high school. Guess they can't teach that in school anymore, it would be considered WOKE!
I've been working on a play, a screenplay, a radio play for over 25 years on Thomas Paine, titled THE BETRAYAL OF TOM PAINE--because that's what this country did to him. ! I can't get anyone interested in it!
Congratulations Jim! You deserve this and more! Thank you for all you do and please keep up the great work you do! Let us all promote "Common Sense" by Thomas Paine and promote the use of common sense in our democratic republic. bill
Congratulations on receiving the Thomas Paine award.
Used to be if one was associated with the military it was assumed you were a conservative Republican. It's great to see as time goes on more of us veterans are opposing the craziness of the MAGA insanity and are speaking out. I'm retired after 20 years in the Naval Reserve and live in Florida. Who knew there was a veteran's group in Florida with the Core Values: Liberty, Equality, Democracy, and Human Rights
Thanks for introducing me to the Florida Veterans for Common Sense. I joined.
After reading "Common Sense", it became quite apparent that not only was Tom Paine the most influential of the founders, but that he had to deal with basically the same issues we face today: a hunger for freedom and a willingness to fight for it on one hand; fear of the future, unwillingness to give up privileges, craven submission to the power elite of the day (the British Empire) on the other hand. What Paine does is give us a blueprint on how to use the power of the people, if we are willing to own it. We love the guy! Thanks for sharing your opinion, Jim!
Join me and others en route to Bordentown, New Jersey to see a statue honoring Paine. It's designed to prompt the visitor to read (or reread) quotes from "Common Sense". I read aloud.
Barbara Trought
Right on! Thomas Paine was a true progressive! I only wish the physical book had a larger font for those of us who might prefer to read without the aid of an electron microscope! He makes me proud to be an American, unlike many of the slave-owning-and-procreating landowners who were our "founding fathers" ... So yea, bravo & kudos to Thomas Paine, and to his spiritual great great grandson, you, Jim!
Paine and Franklin were the Thinkers.
Thomas Paine has always been my favorite of the "Founding Fathers", because he embodied the inclusive spirit of democracy that Jefferson, Adams, Washington, et al. lacked.
Building on that concept, I think, is a newly-published book by Ian Shapiro, Uncommon Sense, which I've not had the opportunity to read (published in, I think, January, and the paperback already is sold out, while the hardbound sells for an outlandish $110!), but which purportedly suggests that the same processes that Paine suggested for realizing his vision of democracy actually could work today.
Your the man Jim. Thank you, I remember learning about common sense in high school. Guess they can't teach that in school anymore, it would be considered WOKE!
I've been working on a play, a screenplay, a radio play for over 25 years on Thomas Paine, titled THE BETRAYAL OF TOM PAINE--because that's what this country did to him. ! I can't get anyone interested in it!
Congratulations Jim! You deserve this and more! Thank you for all you do and please keep up the great work you do! Let us all promote "Common Sense" by Thomas Paine and promote the use of common sense in our democratic republic. bill
Thought provoking and inspiring was Thomas Paine!
Truly an inspired commentary on a truly revolutionary Founding Father!
Common sense is what the world needs now especially as far as climate change is concerned. Common sense over dollars and cents !
Congratulations on your well-deserved award! Tom Paine was a fascinating and brilliant thinker. So are you.
Keep up the great work Jim! And thanks for the common sense you tell. Congratulation for the recognition. It is well deserved.
Thank you for this wonderful piece.
Evan Imber-Black