In a trip to DC this week for a meeting, I had the opportunity to walk to the Jefferson Memorial and back to the hotel in Foggy Bottom. Any number of visits - morning, evening or night to this magnificent structure in an idyllic setting, never fails to touch mind and spirit (and my body too, due to a 5 mile walk!).
My earlier poem on Jefferson:
http://agingonthevine.blogspot.com/2003/03/poem-father-and-son.html
Jefferson Memorial
The tidal basin beautifully frames the
neoclassical architecture of the memorial
Amen to this inscription:
But is it conservative or liberal?
The Original Strategist
The first man to distill the enlightenment thinking into a
practical prescription for a whole new country
Knowledge is LIGHT
200+ years later there is still a debate about
the efficacy of science
the efficacy of science
- just read Jefferson, people!
Must Read
An excellent book on this
very complicated man by Pulitzer Prize
winning Joseph Ellis
MUST SEE
Excellent documentary; where I first heard
the phrase that Jefferson was the author of the American Scripture
(maybe the one time George Will actually shows emotion)
JFK Quote
Describing an event for the 1962 Nobel Prize Winners at the White House:
"...probably the greatest concentration of talent and genius in this house except for perhaps those times when Thomas Jefferson ate alone"
The Mall
Can't resist the call of the mall!
Epitaph
HERE WAS BURIED THOMAS JEFFERSON, AUTHOR OF
THE DECLARATION OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE
OF THE STATUTE OF VIRGINIA FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
AND FATHER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
(Not President, Governor, Secretary of State or Minister ....
rather a writer and the embodiment of Light and Liberty)
 |
| From the Light and Liberty Museum in the basement of the Jefferson Memorial |
My earlier poem on Jefferson:
http://agingonthevine.blogspot.com/2003/03/poem-father-and-son.html
6 comments:
Neither liberal nor conservative - but a progressive thinker who recognized that the human condition is always changing - and our way of governing ourselves much change accordingly.
Very nice pictures and compilation.
Wisdom, great people's thoughts
are expressed as "quotes" for the
inspiration of the next generations.
Thomas Jefferson, who authored American
constitution which stood the test of times
not only shows his wisdom and brilliance
but it also proves that he was a genius.
Nicely capture by you.
wonderful!!!
Nice. He is a sphinx (read that book). Adopted by liberals and conservatives as representative of each of their ideologies. Clearly, the first inscription would be hailed by liberals vis-a-vis activism in the court. Democrats erected this monument, adopting Jefferson as their answer to Lincoln the Republican. I see Jefferson as a small-government conservative.
Dear President Jefferson:
Before you toss this letter away, please make note that I, am indeed a Federalist, and though you expect me to insult you and berate you, stop. I am just a man who deeply believes in what is right for the country, and believe that the Louisiana Purchase is a now or never offer. We must take swift action now, for we are essentially buying a measure of land which will double our size, give us increased prestige, and will let us own 2/3 of the mainland America. We will have increased prestige, a powerful position in how other countries view us, and a domineering view of the frontier. And above all, we will get this for a meager 15 million dollars! But we really do not have long. At any given moment, Napoleon Bonaparte, the dictator whose every fiber of being has been dedicated to global domination, could easily change his mind. In addition, it has been proven that since Napoleon clearly wishes to start a North American Empire, even though he lost a giant amount of troops at Haiti, he remains a huge threat to our safety, with a powerful military right at our borders. Do remember, America’s military is not ready for a full-scale war, and neither is its economy. We just barely defeated Britain in the War for Independence, and even that put us into huge debt. Another war would have the potential to destroy us.
In addition, this deal will make our nation gain a large amount of political power. The Louisiana Territory will not only double our size, but has access to huge agricultural resources, The thriving port city of New Orleans, and a potential for massive profit. Even though people may consider you a king, they will thank you in the long run for making America stronger. As for passing an amendment, there simply is no time! Getting a bill passed is a long, grinding process, and given the sheer amount of tension between political parties, the states could deny this amendment. Beyond that, Napoleon could walk out of the deal and decide to build an army in North America, a threat we cannot afford. Remember the price! For 15 million dollars exactly, we can completely double our size! We cannot miss this offer!
Godspeed!
RVK
(written for fun!)
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