John Adams resources

If you would like to learn more about John Adams, I highly recommend the book by David McCullough simply titled John Adams and the HBO miniseries of the same name.

John Adams: Fighting for Independence

Of all the Founding Fathers I have studied, John Adams has never been one to stand out in my mind. Certainly, I know he was an important player in the events, but I have never really paid him much heed. He did not lead the armies, like General George Washington. He did not author a monumental document, as did Thomas Jefferson. He was not clever and inventive, as was Benjamin Franklin. He did not even lead exciting revolts, as did his cousin Samuel Adams when he led the Boston Tea Party. However, I have come to find that Mr. Adams was just as important a figure as any of these gentlemen, if not more.


As a lawyer from the Massachusetts Bay Colony, John Adams did many of the “behind-the-scenes” jobs that we don’t pay attention to, and yet are often the most important. Specifically, I will discuss his role in helping the Colonies to transform into free and independent states.

It was Mr. Adams who headed the Massachusetts delegation to the Continental Congress and was one of the most active voices in that chamber. It was Mr. Adams who called incessantly for support of the Massachusetts militia, who were the first, and for a long time only, militia fighting back against the British forces near Boston. It was also Mr. Adams who proposed that they select a Commander-in-Chief to lead these armed forces, and then suggested Colonel George Washington from the Virginia delegation to fill the position. Mr. Adams was Washington’s most ardent voice in Congress when the armies needed money or supplies.

Mr. Adams was also the foremost supporter of independence. He was one of the first congressmen to even put forth the idea. It was he, along with Benjamin Franklin, who asked Thomas Jefferson to write the Declaration of Independence. When Independence was finally to come to a vote, John Dickinson, the foremost opponent of the proposal, stood and spoke with great eloquence and genuine concern about the consequences of such a Declaration. When he finished, no one dared respond until John Adams at last took the floor. What followed was a speech that many said was the finest Adams ever gave. Thomas Jefferson later said of the speech that Adams was “not graceful nor elegant, nor remarkable fluent,” but spoke “with a power of thought and expression that moved us from our seats (McCullough 127).” It was the turning point of the debate. Richard Stockton, a delegate from New Jersey said that Adams was “the man to whom the country is most indebted for the great measure of independency. . . . He it was who sustained the debate, and by the force of his reasoning demonstrated not only the justice, but the expediency of the measure (McCullough 127).” Once the vote took place and motion for independence had passed, Adams continued on to be the zealous protector of the Declaration and every phrase and concept that Jefferson had written therein.

As Richard Stockton said, we are indeed indebted to John Adams, among other men, for the independency and founding of our country. He fought in the chamber of congress with the zeal and energy one would expect to find on the battlefield. He believed so much in the necessity of a free and independent country, that he said, “we should always remember that a free constitution of civil government cannot be purchased at too dear a rate, as there is nothing on this side of Jerusalem of equal importance to mankind (McCullough 125).”

John Adams was a vital player in the events of our American Revolution. I am so grateful to have had this man to fight for the cause of independence and to lead our country as the second President of the United States.



Works Cited

McCullough, David. John Adams. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2001. Print.

Pelosi Ignoring Fiscal Realities of Healthcare

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is pushing government-run healthcare reform while government-run Medicare is already $38 trillion in debt!
http://www.onenewsnow.com/Politics/Default.aspx?id=695448

Morality Necessary for a Free Government

This is a quote from George Washington's farewell address when he left the presidency. He listed several important guidelines for future political decisions, and here is one of the most important ones he listed:

"Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked: Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths which are the instruments of investigation in courts of justice ? And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.

It is substantially true that virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government. The rule, indeed, extends with more or less force to every species of free government. Who that is a sincere friend to it can look with indifference upon attempts to shake the foundation of the fabric?"

http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/washing.asp

Please go back and read that last paragraph and make sure you understand it.
Who, indeed? Who can look indifferently at our government's push to take morality and religion out of public affairs? Why are we standing idly by?
Also, please note that he gave this speech while still the President of the United States. So much for separation of church and state.

The Values of the Founding Fathers

There are a few things in this life that can make me so happy I could cry:
1. The Gospel of Jesus Christ
2. People I love
3. Holding a baby
4. The Story of America's Journey to Independence
In class today, we watched Part 2 of John Adams produced by HBO. It reminded me yet again of the sacrifices, the toils, the hard fight that our Fathers gave for their country. They believed in this grand experiment. They believed in their natural rights. They were good, honest men with strong characters, backed by smart, hard-working women.
It is my firm belief that God had a hand in the founding of this country. I'm not just saying this because it is what other Christians say, but because I truly believe it.
As I watched this movie, I was in awe at the fantastic caliber of men who founded this country. Our nation has gone so far awry since the beginning of our country. We must return to the values that these men believed in - honesty, morality, honor, patriotism, personal responsibility, hard work, charity, humility, and integrity. These are not out-dated values. They are true now as they were true then and they could solve many of our problems. We must return to what the founders intended us to be. I will post an important quote by Geroge Washington on this topic in my next blog.

Petition Against Hate Crimes Bill

This is a petition from the Liberty Counsel against the Hate Crimes Bill.
http://www.libertyaction.org/292/petition.asp?PID=22256379&P=1&NID=1

Pandemic Bill

I can't believe this... Now they're using swine flu to take away people's rights? This bill would let officials force their way into your home!

http://www3.whdh.com/news/articles/local/BO123558/?utm_source=Comprehensive&utm_campaign=95f3a41c46-In_brief_9_22-2009&utm_medium=email

 

A Fun Conversation from My Facebook Page

T: currently adding evidence we are a Christian Nation to her blog :)A Patriot's Heart
Source: apatriotheart.blogspot.com
September 16 at 11:33pm · Comment · Like / Unlike · View Feedback (10)Hide Feedback (10) · Share

Karen B: I love your blog! I wish the whole world could see it and read it. Well, I guess theoretically they COULD, but I wish they WOULD!
September 16 at 11:58pm · Delete

T: Lol. well thanks!
September 17 at 12:17am · Delete

Don L: Just to be a trouble maker..... How can a christian nation be founded by a bunch of deists?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_deists
September 17 at 7:30am · Delete

T: Well, I'm not sure anything I say willl satisfy you since you just like to make trouble.lol. But modern historians have a tendency to classify many people as deists that i don't agree with. I don't have time to research right now, so don't ask me to prove it. There were only 4 peoople on that list that I agree may have been deists, and only 3 of those actually signed either the Declaration or Constitution - Thomas Paine signed neither. I cannot agree with George Washington being a deist. Again, don't ask me to prove it. I'm too busy.
Also, Christianity is a very encompassing term. Some deists argued that they were practicing the PURE form of Christianity.
But whether you classify them as Christian or not in the modern sense, what is important is that they believed in God. If it makes you feel better, I could also say that this nation was founded on Judeo-Christian beliefs.
September 17 at 8:00am · Delete

T: One more thought... Deists believed that God did not intervene in the affairs of men. If Benjamin Franklin believed that, why did he say:
"In the beginning of the contest with G. Britain... we had daily prayer in this room for the Divine Protection. -- Our prayers, Sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a Superintending providence in our favor...
I have lived, Sir, a long time and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth -- that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? "
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/benfranklin.htm
If Thomas Jefferson believed this, why did he include in the Declaration the statement:
"...with a firm reliance on the Protection of Divine Providence..."
September 17 at 10:50am · Delete

T: and, yes, I realize I just tried to prove what I said I wasn't going to prove. Lol!
September 17 at 10:56am · Delete

Karen B: you go girl! Let him have it! :-)
September 17 at 11:15am · Delete

Don L: Very good. Founded on judeo-christian beliefs is more easily defensible, and judeo-christian priciples would probably be more accurate. The fact is that many of our founding fathers also cherished many Greek and Roman ideas and ideals. Democracy itself is essentially absent from the Bible. They also argued that there was "natural law," hence statements like "We hold these truths to be self evident."
September 17 at 2:27pm · Delete

T: I absolutely agree with the concept of natural law, a law higher than any human law. This "natural law" is what all of our political laws really should be based on. I also believe that the Founders believed this Natural Law came from God, which is why the Declaration says that we are "endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights." Note ... Read Morethat the Constitution does not grant rights - it lists them. This is why John Quincy Adams said:
"Our political way of life is by the laws of nature, of nature's God, and of course presupposes the existence of God, the moral ruler of the universe,and a rule of right and wrong, of just and unjust, binding upon man, preceding all institutions of human society and government."
They did model much of the government after Greek and Roman ideals, but it was always with the knowledge that this Natural Law came from their Creator.
September 17 at 3:17pm · Delete

T: Biblio: the quote and several ideas came from "Whatever Happened to Justice?" by Richard Maybury
September 17 at 3:20pm · Delete

The Ten Commandments in DC

This is a photo of an engraving of the Ten Commandments on the floor of the Rotunda of the National Archives. The Rotunda is where the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and several other important documents are on display for the public. We are a Christian nation.

The Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence was signed on 4 July 1776. It announced to the world that we were free and separate from Great Britain and was the first founding document of our nation. It is revered in our nation and abroad for its proud declarations of equality and "unalienable rights." It has been cited several times in court rulings in the United States. It is interesting to note that this legal document mentions God four separate times, as the founders declared that HE had endowed men with their rights and as they sought validation from him for their actions. The Declaration reads:
"...the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them..."
"...they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights..."
"...appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions..."
"...with a firm reliance on the Protection of Divine Providence..."
Anyone who claims that we are not a Christian, or at least a religious, nation needs to re-read our Declaration. There is even a subtle nod in the Constitution when it says "...in the Year of our Lord...". Also, officials of the state to this day swear their oath of office with their hand on the Holy Bible. Not on the Constitution, but on the Word of God.
When you study history, you can see that the term "separation of church and state" has changed vastly over time. The founders never intended that there be no mention of God in state affairs. They were simply assuring that there would not be an official state religion - that people could worship as they please.
God Bless America.

For the Want of Tears

For the Want of Tears
Narrative - An African Slave Being Shipped Across the Atlantic

It reeks. It smells of blood and urine and sweat and the decay of human bodies. The unmoving air hangs heavy on my face. It pushes against my skin and I try not to think about not being able to move. How long I have laid in this position I do not know. Has it been days? Weeks? A season? How long will we be here?!? I stop that thought. It only makes the hurt worse.


I try to focus my eyes on the boards above me. Through the dark, my eyes follow the grain of the wood, making shapes. There is the shape of a body, tiny little legs, and wings. I have decided this is like the little birds that used to hide in the tall grasses around my village. My mind wanders and I remember chasing those little birds with the other girls in my village. We would creep through the grass until we saw a bird and then jump out and try to catch it. We never succeeded, but what a wonderful game that was! This little wooden bird is my friend.

My mind is quickly brought back to the present as another woman beside me stirs in her sleep and groans at the pain it causes. I do not know if her poor, skinny body will last much longer. I cannot offer her any help, not any physical comfort at all. Even if they did bring water for our parched throats, it is foul and would likely do no good. The woman is not conscious enough to drink anyway. I start to sing, to soothe her with my voice. My chant calms her groans, but my voice quickly grows weak and raspy. I can’t soothe her long, but she sleeps again.

What kind of monsters hold us captive? They walk like men, but their skin is pale like the sand. They talk in strange tongues and hold sticks that throw fire and kill a man in one blink. I tremble thinking about this. I try to change my thoughts, but it is too late. The scene comes to my mind of my father falling backward, murdered by this weapon in the hands of an enemy tribe. What kind of cruel beings are these?

I shudder, but it hurts. Moving hurts. I am sore and stiff. I hurt. My stomach cramps and pains for food. My mouth and lips call for water. My muscles cramp, but I cannot stretch. My head hurts. My heart hurts. My nose recoils at the awful smell - the smell of suffering and death.

I hear a monster’s voice coming down from above. His voice is slurred. I do not know how the monsters cause their minds and voices to blur, but I know what happens when they do. This monster wants a woman. My whole body and mind is frozen in fear. I pray to whatever Gods may hear that I may be hidden in shadow and darkness. The voice moves the other direction. I hear metal move, and rasping screams. The screams pierce me. I know she does not have the strength to fight. I hear something strike flesh. The screams turn to moans and finally silence and I hear footsteps, with the sound of dragging behind.

I want to weep, but do not have the energy. My eyes burn for the want of tears. I can feel my body start to shake, but this only hurts. I force myself to be still. I want this suffering to end. I would rather be thrown off this wretched boat than suffer any longer. I want my life to end. I force myself to think of nothing. See nothing. Hear nothing. Smell nothing. Feel nothing. I want to be no longer. I want to exist no more.

9/11 Conspiracy Theory video - ha!

This is a really funny video - y'all should watch!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vK0gDzRPIvw
.

God Bless America

If you ever visit Washington, D.C., I highly recommend visiting the 9/11 memorial at the Pentagon. When I went this spring, I was captivated. The memorial is simple, but beautiful. There are rows of benches balanced over small reflecting pools, and when the sunlight hits the water, it reflects up onto the supports of the benches to create the illusion of flames. Each bench has a name engraved on the end of a victim of 9/11 at the Pentagon. The benches are arranged in rows, according to the age of the person who died, and are also arranged as to whether the person died in the Pentagon or on the plane. I was surprised to find out there were several children on board the plane, I believe it was one toddler and a few sixth graders headed to a national writing contest. Also, there was a person in a car in the parking lot in front of the pentagon, which the plane hit on the way into the Pentagon.

While man has agency to do according to his desires, I believe God is watching out and moving in ways to prevent, or lighten, the harm to others from wicked choices. For example:
At the time of the crash, the Pentagon was undergoing renovations to strengthen its walls. The site where the plane crashed was one of the few areas that reinforcement had been completed. If it weren't for this reinforcement, the damage could have been far worse.
On the way into the Pentagon, the plane hit either a power pole or telephone pole (I can't remember exactly) which slowed down its momentum and caused it to veer slightly.
A cousin showing us the memorial told us a captivating story: There used to be a DMV office in the Pentagon where people could go and get their licenses and tags renewed. It was located very near the point the plane crashed. A friend of my cousin got home from a trip and needed to get his license plate renewed, and so he drove over to the Pentagon on September 11th. When he got to the parking lot, he could not remember why he had came. After racking his brain, he finally drove away. About a mile out, he saw the plane hit the Pentagon.

When they rebuilt the Pentagon, they built in a lovely multi-faith chapel in the spot the plane hit. It is a place of peace and memory for all who were effected by the tragedy. May we ever remember the victims and heroes of 9/11. May God Bless America.

First-hand Account of Obama's visit to Montana

This is a first-hand account of Obama's townhall visit to Montana that I received on 3 Sep 2009. It is a true story from a reliable source. I thought it was a very interesting, and slightly frightening, point of view.

Hello All,

By now you have probably heard that President Obama
came to Montana last Friday. However, there are many things that the major news
has not covered. I feel that since Bill and I live here and we were at the
airport on Friday I should share some facts with you. Whatever you decide to do
with the information is up to you. If you chose to share this email with others
I do ask that you DELETE my email address before you forward this on.
(done!)

On Wednesday, August 5th it was announced locally that the
President would be coming here. There are many groups here that are against his
healthcare and huge spending so those groups began talking and deciding on what
they were going to do. The White House would not release ANY details other than
the date.

On about Tuesday Bill found out that they would be holding the
"Town Hall" at the airport. (This is only because Bill knows EVERYONE at the
airport) Our airport is actually located outside of Belgrade (tiny town) in a
very remote location. Nothing is around there. They chose to use a hangar that
is the most remotely located hangar. You could not pick a more remote location,
and you cannot get to it easily. It is totally secluded from the
public.

FYI: We have many areas in Belgrade and Bozeman which could have
held a large amount of folks with sufficient parking. (gymnasiums/auditoriums).
All of which have chairs and tables, and would not have to be SHIPPED IN!!
$$$$$
During the week, cargo by the TONS was being shipped in constantly.
Airport employees could not believe how it just kept coming. Though it was our
President coming several expressed how excessive it was, especially during a
recession. $$$$$
Late Tuesday/early Wednesday the 12th, they said
that tickets would be handed out on Thursday 9am at two locations and the
president would be arriving around 12:30 Friday.
Thursday morning about 600 tickets were passed out. However, 1500 were printed at a Local printing shop
per White House request. Hmmmm......900 tickets just DISAPPEARED.

This same morning someone called into the radio from the local UPS branch and said
that THOUSANDS of Dollars of Lobster were shipped in for Obama. Montana has some
of the best beef in the nation!!! And it would have been really wonderful to
help out the local economy. Anyone heard of the Recession?? Just think...with
all of the traveling the White House is doing. $$$$$ One can only imagine what
else we are paying for.



On Friday Bill and I got out to the airport about
10:45am. The groups that wanted to protest Obama's spending and healthcare had
gotten a permit to protest and that area was roped off. But that was not to be.
A large bus carrying SEIU (Service Employees International Union) members drove
up onto the area (illegal)and unloaded right there. It was quite a commotion and
there were specifically 2 SEIU men trying to make trouble and start a fight.
Police did get involved and arrested the one man but they said they did not have
the manpower to remove the SEIU crowd.
The SEIU crowd was very organized and young. About 99% were under the age of 30 and they were not locals! They had bullhorns and PROFESSIONALLY made signs. Some even wore preprinted T-shirts. Oh,
and Planned Parenthood folks were with them.....professing abortion rights with
their T-shirts and preprinted signs. (BTW, all these folks did have a permit to
protest in ANOTHER area)
Those against healthcare/spending moved away
from the SEIU crowd to avoid confrontation. They were orderly and respectful.
Even though SEIU kept coming over and walking through, continuing to be very
intimidating and aggressive at the direction of the one SEIU man.
So we had Montana folks from ALL OVER the state with their homemade signs and their
DOGS with homemade signs. We had cowboys, nurses, doctors you name it. There was
even a guy from Texas who had been driving through. He found out about the
occasion, went to the store, made a sign, and came to protest.

If you are wondering about the press.....Well, all of the major networks were over by that
remote hangar I mentioned. They were conveniently parked on the other side of
the buildings FAR away. None of these crowds were even visible to them. I have
my doubts that they knew anything about the crowds.

We did have some local news media around us from this state and Idaho. Speaking of the local
media...they were invited. However, all questions were to be turned into the
White House in advance of the event. Wouldn't want anyone to have to think off
the top of their head.
It was very obvious that it was meant to be
totally controlled by the White House. Everything was orchestrated down to the
last detail to make it appear that Montana is just crazy for Obama and
government healthcare. Even those people that talked about their insurance
woes........the White House called our local HRDC (Human Resource and
Development Committee) and asked for names. Then the White House asked those
folks to come. Smoke and mirrors...EVERYTHING was staged!!!!!!!!!!!

I am very dismayed about what I learned about our current White House. The amount of
control and manipulation was unbelievable. I felt I was not living in the United
States of America, more like the USSR!! I was physically nauseous. Bill and I
have been around when Presidents or Heads of State visit. It has NEVER been like
this. I am truly very frightened for our country. America needs your prayers and
your voices. If you care about our country please get involved. Know the issues.

And let Congress hear your voices again and again!! If they are willing to put
forth so much effort to BULLY a small town one can only imagine what is going on
in Washington DC. Scary!!

Kathy B.
Montana

I have a blog :)

I created this blog as an assignment from my Honors American Government and Society class. I'm not sure what I will be posting, but I'm sure it will be fascinating!