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shockey80

(4,379 posts)
Sat May 26, 2018, 02:50 PM May 2018

You know we are in trouble when the American people forget this simple truth.

This country was born out of rebellion, not patriotism. Many Americans were against the revolution. Many left and went back to England. Many stayed here and fought against the so called traitors, Washington and his men. Many kept two hats at the ready. One for the British, one for the rebels.

When you see Americans support the punishment, the removal of people in the name of patriotism, they have lost their way. They are Un-American. Remove football players because they will not stand? Are you fucking kidding me?

Washington once said this, it brings me to tears, How do you lead free men. I know exactly what he was talking about. The men who fought for Washington were truly free men. They did not know what an order was. They came to fight, not to take orders, not to march.

Washington learned that if you explained the reasons you had to learn how to march to these free men they would give up their independence for the common good. They would respect you and follow your lead.

I do not believe most Americans today know their history, who they are. The election of Trump is proof.

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You know we are in trouble when the American people forget this simple truth. (Original Post) shockey80 May 2018 OP
IMO, this is the greatest post on DU today. Dennis Donovan May 2018 #1
Yes, it is! A great reminder for all of us. pazzyanne May 2018 #17
There are two Americas and there always has been marylandblue May 2018 #2
+1 for this and the OP yonder May 2018 #3
Pennsylvania was founded as a theological utopia for Quakers csziggy May 2018 #9
Very true They_Live May 2018 #10
And Trump's ignorance of history is mind-blowing. maddiemom May 2018 #4
Very true, sadly Pepsidog May 2018 #5
They certainly weren't thinking about African Americans back then were they? I know my history. YOHABLO May 2018 #6
They thought a lot about how to have freedom for me, but not for thee. Marcuse May 2018 #13
Hillary beat him by 3 million votes. BadgerMom May 2018 #7
Just a slight correction: luvtheGWN May 2018 #8
I don't think that Washington was referring to the basic job requirements of employees earning Trust Buster May 2018 #11
The Amerian people have to KNOW of the simple truths Plucketeer May 2018 #12
As predicted by this February 2016 article, it is working. Marcuse May 2018 #16
Folks who were called Loyalists greymattermom May 2018 #14
how much can the fine be? these guys are pretty $$ healthy... samnsara May 2018 #15
This: Aristus May 2018 #18
What they rebelled against matters. Progressive dog May 2018 #19

marylandblue

(12,344 posts)
2. There are two Americas and there always has been
Sat May 26, 2018, 03:14 PM
May 2018

We've been arguing with each other since the beginning. One is open, free and multiethnic. The other is closed, authoritarian and racist.

The Puritans came here to create a theological utopia for themselves only. Others found it so intolerable, they founded Rhode Island and Pennsylvania to find freedom. The first Southern plantations were worked by white indentured servants and black slaves. The whites and blacks worked side by side, but were getting along too well, so wealthy plantation owners used race as a divider to keep poor whites poor, and blacks as slaves. When the nation was born, it was almost ripped apart by slavery, until a compromise to sell out the slaves was made.

I can go on and on. But there have always been these two Americas, and they have always struggled one against the other, sometimes the good side wins, and sometimes the bad side. Right now the bad side is winning. We can change that. But I don't know if we can end the struggle once and for all.

csziggy

(34,119 posts)
9. Pennsylvania was founded as a theological utopia for Quakers
Sat May 26, 2018, 04:41 PM
May 2018

William Penn's father was owed a lot of money by the British Crown. William Penn, an early Quaker accepted a land grant in return for forgiveness of that debt. Penn marketed land to Quakers and other non-conformist religious people not only in England but across Europe.

Two of my ancestors purchased tracts from Penn's representatives in Ireland in 1682 and at least one arrived in Pennsylvania prior to William Penn's arrival

maddiemom

(5,106 posts)
4. And Trump's ignorance of history is mind-blowing.
Sat May 26, 2018, 04:01 PM
May 2018

What a waste of the educational opportunities he had. High school drop-outs of his generation are usually more knowledgeable.

BadgerMom

(2,766 posts)
7. Hillary beat him by 3 million votes.
Sat May 26, 2018, 04:22 PM
May 2018

I haven’t forgotten history, but that fact is comforting. If we are successful in ridding ourselves of him, there is a lot of legislative work to do. The rascism has been with us from the start. I think we were so thrilled by Obama that we let down our guard and this is partly the fault of our guard relaxing and partly the work of the American oligarchy ever since the Reagan administration.

luvtheGWN

(1,336 posts)
8. Just a slight correction:
Sat May 26, 2018, 04:32 PM
May 2018

Very few returned to England. Instead, they came to Canada and became known as United Empire Loyalists.

 

Trust Buster

(7,299 posts)
11. I don't think that Washington was referring to the basic job requirements of employees earning
Sat May 26, 2018, 04:51 PM
May 2018

Millions from their toil. A touch dramatic for my taste.

 

Plucketeer

(12,882 posts)
12. The Amerian people have to KNOW of the simple truths
Sat May 26, 2018, 05:32 PM
May 2018

before they can "forget" them. This nation suffers from an epidemic of determined ignorance. And those afflicted with it are proud to be that way.

samnsara

(17,570 posts)
15. how much can the fine be? these guys are pretty $$ healthy...
Sat May 26, 2018, 05:49 PM
May 2018

...maybe we could start a go fund me page!

Aristus

(66,075 posts)
18. This:
Sat May 26, 2018, 05:57 PM
May 2018
Washington learned that if you explained the reasons you had to learn how to march to these free men they would give up their independence for the common good. They would respect you and follow your lead.


Washington learned that from Baron von Steuben, the Prussian officer who trained the continental soldiers.

As a Prussian, he was used to obeying unconditionally the orders he received from above, and also to issuing orders to his subordinates that he expected would be obeyed without question.

He was a little taken aback by the American soldier who constantly questioned the reasons for his orders. He discovered that such questions were not due to inherently contrary behavior, but out of a genuine desire to know the purpose and intent of the orders. Once he understood his soldiers' mindset, he was able to train them to an exceptional skill level in battle drill.

He passed this information on to Washington, and they both agreed that such a mindset in the troops was of huge value for those fighting for a republic as opposed to a monarchy.

Progressive dog

(6,861 posts)
19. What they rebelled against matters.
Sat May 26, 2018, 08:09 PM
May 2018

The rebellion was to preserve the rights that had been granted in the charters for the various colonies. It wasn't to steal from the British.
George Washington did not ask for his troops to vote on how the army should fight. They soon learned what an order was because armies can't win battles where the soldiers can take their guns and go home. You cannot have an army without rules that must be followed.
No, many colonists did not leave and return to England. Some of the American aristocracy fled, the tax collectors, the port inspectors, the stamp vendors, the royal appointees of all types fled. A few ships were sufficient to carry them all.
I agree that many Americans do not know their history.

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