This minor modification of that old warning of Paul Revere who was known to "do his thing" not far from here on the mainland of Massachusetts. It is the 4th of July on Nantucket, and there is a spring-break atmosphere on Main Street. People who had just turned 21 or had identification to "prove" their age waited outside Murray's Beverage Store for them to open at noon so they could buy ammunition in the fight against sobriety. Many wore the uniforms of the armies to whom they were conscripted. One wore a shirt that said "Minuteman," and I was tempted to ask his girlfriend if that was a good thing. Since they were obviously on the cusp of having a good time on the beach watching fireworks it seemed appropriate to reflect on our nation's fight for independence that took place almost 250 years ago and ask ourselves "What the Hell happened?" We still have brave men and women in uniform fighting in the armed forces but I don't see anyone in politics that even vaguely reminds me of Thomas Jefferson or George Washington. The Jeffersons of "Movin' on Up" fame. sure, but not good old TJ the patriot. It would be interesting to get into a time-machine and travel back to the early days of our republic to see if our congress was populated by buffoons the way it is today. I kinda doubt it.
How do you know the Jeffersons from Movin on Up fame aren't related to Thomas Jefferson?
ReplyDeleteI suspect that they may be related through SALLY HEMMINGS but my guess is that THOMAS JEFFERSON'S intellect, about which JFK said " The time when there was the most intellectual power in the White House was when Jefferson dined alone." was not added to by Ms Hemmings, whose function with Thomas Jefferson was not an intellectual one. It may be that whatever she bought to the table, or other furniture, though "special" to Jefferson, did not add to the intellectual gene pool and that "Movin' on up to the east side" was not the pinnacle of western literary achievement. In fact, the dumbing down effect of the show on our society was profound...almost as great as the edification brought to us by the earlier Jefferson. I guess it's a Yin/Yang thing.
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