Tuesday, July 4th, 2006
Happy Independence Day
I’m an American. For the past week I’ve had at least half a dozen Canadians wish me “Happy Canada Day”. I suppose it’s probably time to return the favor. To all Americans, Canadians and citizens of the world: Happy Independence Day.
The Fourth of July isn’t significant simply because it marks the beginning of independent American politics. It’s significant because it marks one of the first times that a group of people threw off the yolk of foreign leadership and chose self-government. It is significant because of the emphasis placed on individual empowerment and individual choice. It is significant, most of all, because of the ideal of America created on or around July 4, 1776 — an ideal that we have yet to realize, but that we continually strive for.
Everyone, it seems, has their own personal heroes of the American revolution. Some revere Washington, some Adams, some Franklin. My personal hero of the American revolution is Thomas Paine.
Paine was born into poverty in 1737 in Norfolk, England. He grew up in the midst of uneducated farmers and ended his education at the tender age of twelve. He failed in nearly everything he did. He apprenticed as a corset maker with his father after failing out of school. He failed at that. At 19 he became a sailor. He failed at that, too. Paine’s story before he came to America was one of constant new jobs, constant new opportunities, all wasted or failed.
Paine arrived in America on November 30th 1774. He carried a letter from Benjamin Franklin that charitably described him as an “ingenious, worthy young man.” Paine spent his first couple years in America seeking to reinvent himself, writing several small pamphlets and articles for the Pennsylvania Journal and other publications.
It wasn’t until January, 1776 that Paine really found his voice. It was on the 10th of January that Paine released his masterpiece: Common Sense.
Common Sense weighed in at 46 pages and almost didn’t get published. While Paine wrote that “I offer nothing but the simple facts, plain arguments and common sense,” most printers didn’t see it that way. They were unwilling or unable to print what they saw as a provocative broadside aimed squarely at British rule. It was only through the charity of his friend Robert Bell, a Scottish printer, that the pamphlet was even published.
Paine’s writing was indeed incendiary. He wrote that “[the] distinction of men into kings and subjects… [is something for which] no truly natural or religious reason can be found.”
Common Sense was a best seller in the American colonies. More than a hundred thousand copies were printed, and these copies were passed from colonist to colonist as if they were accounts of the Second Coming. Some argue that the Declaration of Independence never would have been written had it not been for the conditions created by Paine’s pamphlet — before Common Sense many Americans thought about independence to some degree, but political power in the Americas was very clearly in favor of reconciliation. This Paine would have none of: “I challenge the warmest advocate for reconciliation to show a single advantage that this continent can reap by being connected with Great Britain.”
Thomas Paine was an independent. He was his own man, reinvented thanks to the opportunities offered by America. He thought for himself, wrote for himself and had an outsized effect on the political realities of the 18th century — and every century to follow — thanks to the printing press.
The moral here is a simple one. In 1775 and 1776 one man’s words ignited the firestorm that led to the Declaration of Independence. One man’s views on democracy, on republicanism, on individual rights and individual responsibility. One man’s views that almost didn’t get printed because no printer would dare put those words down in ink. Thomas Paine’s access to the printing press, thanks to Robert Bell, changed the world.
These days we don’t need Robert Bell. Anyone can set up a blog for free. Anyone can publish their words for free and get them in front of thousands or even millions without spending a dime. Anyone can broadcast their own radio show or television show to millions without having to find their own Robert Bell. How will the world change?
on Tuesday, July 4th, 2006 at 12:01 pm:
If you really want to celebrate your independence and self-governance, go and protest Bush’s reign… Impeach Bush! Otherwise, you don’t actually live in “the land of the free”, you just think you do…
on Tuesday, July 4th, 2006 at 1:29 pm:
Yeah, if Bush sees 1000 or 100,000 protesters outside his window, he’ll change his policies. Is that how things work in Canada?
on Tuesday, July 4th, 2006 at 5:14 pm:
I have to agree with Charles here. We’ve protested until our signs have withered, Bush and his ideological minions just couldn’t care less. I’d love to see Bush impeached but our political system is broken. The Republicans are sheep ready to rubber stamp and continue to fund Bush’s failures while the Democrats don’t have the balls to stand up and provide a clear alternative. Third parties are marginalized, demonized and excluded from the game which the two mainstream parties control. Unless that changes, I see no alternative.
BUT we can be our own modern day Thomas Paine! We have the tools to express ideas and change minds. It is our duty to do just that. Happy 4th!
on Tuesday, July 4th, 2006 at 5:17 pm:
Exactly right, Eddie! I’m of the opinion that a well written blog post, a well produced video or a well argued podcast is infinitely more effective than a protest of any sort.
on Tuesday, July 4th, 2006 at 6:30 pm:
Problem is, though: nowadays nobody really cares for what they read. Any equivalent to “common sense” would only reach the minds of those who have already thought just the same thing; not many, that is. If it’s not a bestselling novel or movie, only few would care; and about movies and novels they would care only until the next thrill comes along.
We are not living in 1776, when any good written piece met open minds just because there were so few arguments.
What if we - not just the US - are already back to a different kind of kings and subjects? Would any “Common sense” have its chance?
on Tuesday, July 4th, 2006 at 7:19 pm:
Hey Dip,
I’ve definitely seen that argument made. Cass Sustein perhaps made it best as a warning in Republic.com.
I’m not sure I have an answer for you, except to say that I think the history is not yet written, and that while some people do exist in their own echo chamber that this behavior is mostly that of the fringe. There’s a great big soft middle (70%?) that isn’t hanging out in echo chambers… they’re out there ready for something to change their minds.
Witness Bush’s approval ratings in the States, or the swings in public opinion regarding the war in Iraq. If everyone stayed in their own echo chamber and didn’t read “common sense” no opinions would change, political realities would stay on the same side and change only in degrees (towards radicalization).
on Tuesday, July 4th, 2006 at 7:39 pm:
I’m afraid I don’t see a much of a political outlet for the silenced majority that opposes Bush.
Gore Vidal: “And poor Ralph Nader’s trying to do a third party, when what we need is a second party.”
on Thursday, July 6th, 2006 at 1:08 am:
My vote is for armed revolution, since any other vote I make doesn’t mean shit anymore. But I’m a bit of a pussy, so I just make videos and drink whiskey to dull the pain.
Sorry I missed y’all on Sunday. Turmoil in the personal life. Very little sleep. Women can be every bit as oppressive as the British empire.
on Saturday, July 8th, 2006 at 1:56 pm:
Be Patriotic … go AWOL for independence day.
Bush’s oppostiton has not been silent … rather, silenced.
Pledge your life and resources to the drunk pussy revolution or die sober and horny … Hear! Hear!