I had been desiring for several years to attend this event and was thrilled to be able to go this year. Finally. I was additionally thrilled to find out that VIP ticketholders received a free copy of Clay Jenkinson's newest book, Becoming Jefferson's People: Re-inventing the American Republic in the Twenty-first century.
John Williams spent an hour throwing topics out for President Jefferson to discuss. John wasn't ideologically one-sided, which made the discussion more thoughful and inciteful. The President was brilliant. Sure, it wasn't the typical way I'd spend my Friday night, but it was immeasurably beneficial, and I am so glad I was able to attend. So effective and informative was Mr. Jenkinson that one would swear Thomas Jefferson himself was there, so that's how I'll treat it in this post. Discussing many of his fellow Founding Fathers, Jefferson spoke from his era's point of view and not ours, reminding us well on how we are a republic, or are supposed to be, and how we have fallen far from many of his views, yet how we can correct this and become what we as a nation were meant to be.
Following the hour-long part moderated by Williams, for well over 30 minutes Jefferson fielded questions from the audience, providing for often elaborate, definitive answers. I am sure there were several who disagreed with his thinking--he is admittedly a sexist, for example--just as several probably agreed with his thinking--he is a strict contstructionist when it comes to the judiciary, for example, in fact being opposed to life tenure for judges.
Even though I am sure a few believe I parade around under pseudonyms or multiple personalities here, that crazy I am not. I have always been MIB and no one else; now no more, however. I am sure that this, my last post here, will cause legions of leftists 'round these parts to celebrate. You'll have virtually no one to call you on the carpet when it comes to the incessant partisanship and logical imbalance rampant here, or the hypocrisy so often prevalent by those so quick to criticize the right when there is just as much to criticize on the left. While some will remain forever convinced I say this as a disgruntled or now embarrassed Republican, nothing can be further from the truth. To believe so is simply pure ignorance and blind partisanship. I leave proud of my independent mindset, even scratching my head over the fact that Democrats have earned my vote far more often than have Republicans (I'd say by an almost 2 to 1 margin, truthfully), but both have quite often over the recent years disappointed me immensely, because I see us as a nation--and the current party in power is not solely to blame--drifting farther and farther away from the ideals our Founding Fathers possessed. While Alexander Hamilton undoubtedly would be rather proud of what we have become, Jefferson, Franklin, Madison, et. al. would not.
I will never cease to give up hope, either, for we are a noble country, and one of which I am exceedingly proud. We are not evil. We are not to blame for the world's troubles, the opinions of extremists notwithstanding. We become this only if we let ourselves become this.
With a nod to Mr. Jenkinson, who did an absolutely unbelievable and outstanding performance as Thomas Jefferson, complete with the period attire, I go gently into that good night with some words of wisdom from both Jefferson and one of the persons he most admired, Benjamin Franklin.
QUOTE
Benjamin Franklin's virtues that he attempted to incorporate into his life (emphasis and spelling original)
- Temperance: Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.
- Silence: Speak not what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.
- Order: Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.
- Resolution: Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.
- Frugality: Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.
- Industry: Lose no time; be always employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.
- Sincerity: Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.
- Justice: Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.
- Moderation: Avoid extreams; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
- Cleanliness: Tolerate no uncleanliness in cloaths, or habitation.
- Tranquility: Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.
- Chastity: Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dulness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another's peace or reputation.
- Humility: Imitate Jesus and Socrates.
QUOTE
Thomas Jefferson's Decalogue, or what he called his personal ten commandments (spelling original)
Excellent words by which to live, but I'll leave you with some of Clay's himself and mine mixed in as well as I say farewell to the masses here. - Never put off till to-morrow what you can do to-day.
- Never trouble another for what you can do yourself.
- Never spend your money before you have it.
- Never buy what you do not want, because it is cheap; it will be dear to you.
- Pride costs us more than hunger, thirst, and cold.
- We never repent of having eaten too little.
- Nothing is troublesome that we do willingly.
- How much pain have cost us the evils which have never happened.
- Take things always by their smooth handle.
- When angry, count ten, before you speak; if very angry, a hundred.
Turn off your television. In fact, give it away. Walk every day, the farther the better, preferably in the natural rather than the civilized world. Learn at least one other politically or culturally significant language. Start now, no matter how old you are. Take up a musical instrument and get good enough at it to entertain your friends. At any rate, try to bring mastery to all that you do, or at least to some central expressions of your soul. Get and stay healthy. Avoid excesses of food and drink. Write long, lucid letters to your friends and family. Take an active role in your civic life. Love your family more than the world. Take up a craft. Experiment boldly, and don't be afraid to re-invent your life. Behave as if there is nothing your government can or should do for you. Regard self-reliance and resourcefulness as the defining principles of your life. Host splendid dinner parties, where the emphasis is on gracious and intelligent conversation rather than on ostentation. Build your dream house, or at least rework the one you have until it becomes an unmistakable expression of your value system and your view of the world. Grow something and ingest it with pride. Defend liberty--your own and others'--even if it makes you unpopular. Get the facts. Argue without passion or rancor. Never cease to question the government and those whom you have chosen to represent you, for to cease such inquiry forfeits your right to live in a republic.
Be a champion of education. Tolerate difference. Seek harmony in all that you do. Ask perenially: Is it reasonable? Is it healthy? Is it useful? Can it be improved? Never waste a single moment. Drive yourself to excellence. Surround yourself with good books, and grant yourself plenty of time to read them. Sit serenely, bathed in natural illumination, with the best glass of wine you can afford, and read for hours at a stretch, with the confidence that in doing so you are fulfilling the highest purpose of humankind. Aspire to live accordingly to the dictates of reason. Pursue happiness, but define it with good sense and dignity.
Finally, respect life, at all its stages. Do not cheapen it under the auspices of science. Protect especially the most defenseless among us, those threatened the most by our own "rights" and desires, for once we cheapen human life, none of us are truly safe.
God bless you all.
The last word is yours. As it should be...
Be well!
