(no subject)
Oct. 5th, 2004 06:43 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
missroseroseI'm reading Thomas Paine's Common Sense for my American Lit. class, and he was refuting the argument of how England united with the colonies would make a formidable force to "bid defiance to the world"; this particular paragraph caught my eye.
Besides, what have we to do with setting the world at defiance? Our plan is commerce, and that, well attended to, will secure us the peace and friendship of all Europe; because it is the interest of Europe to have America a free port. Her trade will always be a protection, and her barrenness of gold and silver secure her from invaders {emphasis mine}.
I find myself wondering if Our Fearless Leader was forced to read this in college, too...and if not, whether he might have given it some serious thought, and perhaps come to the presidency with an entirely different and more productive attitude...
...nah.
Besides, what have we to do with setting the world at defiance? Our plan is commerce, and that, well attended to, will secure us the peace and friendship of all Europe; because it is the interest of Europe to have America a free port. Her trade will always be a protection, and her barrenness of gold and silver secure her from invaders {emphasis mine}.
I find myself wondering if Our Fearless Leader was forced to read this in college, too...and if not, whether he might have given it some serious thought, and perhaps come to the presidency with an entirely different and more productive attitude...
...nah.
