President Bush was heckled during his talk in front of 76 naturalized citizens at the home of Thomas Jefferson. A UPI report stated:
Several people yelled out criticism during his speech in Charlottesville, Fox News reported. One man shouted "This man is a fascist," while another screamed curses.
"We believe in free speech in America," Bush ad-libbed. The protesters were removed by police. In the ceremony at Monticello, Bush paid tribute to Jefferson, the nation's third president, and to the immigrants taking the oath of citizenship.
"We honor Jefferson's legacy by aiding the rise of liberty in lands that do not know the blessings of freedom, and on this Fourth of July we pay tribute to the brave men and women who wear the uniform of the United States of America," he said. "We also honor Jefferson's legacy by welcoming newcomers to our land, and that is what we're here to celebrate today."
This Fourth of July, inspiration from our Founding Fathers is badly needed. Consider other words of the first resident of "The Western White House", Monticello.
"The oppressed should rebel, and they will continue to rebel and raise disturbance until their civil rights are fully restored to them and all partial distinctions, exclusions and incapacitations are removed." --Thomas Jefferson: Notes on Religion, 1776. Papers 1:548
"As revolutionary instruments (when nothing but revolution will cure the evils of the State) [secret societies] are necessary and indispensable, and the right to use them is inalienable by the people." --Thomas Jefferson to William Duane, 1803. FE 8:256
Our state manifests numerous evils at the moment. How will the "free people" respond? Are they, like the protesters, to be carted off by authorities while leaders offer quippy platitudes? Let's hope our democratic foundation is deep enough to survive. That includes the oppressed rebelling and raising disturbances. It means secret societies working to cure the evils of the State. Will Thomas Jefferson of yesteryear prevail? Or will Bush's modern day interpretation, a watered down international version, win the day? Stay tuned...
Several people yelled out criticism during his speech in Charlottesville, Fox News reported. One man shouted "This man is a fascist," while another screamed curses.
"We believe in free speech in America," Bush ad-libbed. The protesters were removed by police. In the ceremony at Monticello, Bush paid tribute to Jefferson, the nation's third president, and to the immigrants taking the oath of citizenship.
"We honor Jefferson's legacy by aiding the rise of liberty in lands that do not know the blessings of freedom, and on this Fourth of July we pay tribute to the brave men and women who wear the uniform of the United States of America," he said. "We also honor Jefferson's legacy by welcoming newcomers to our land, and that is what we're here to celebrate today."
This Fourth of July, inspiration from our Founding Fathers is badly needed. Consider other words of the first resident of "The Western White House", Monticello.
"The oppressed should rebel, and they will continue to rebel and raise disturbance until their civil rights are fully restored to them and all partial distinctions, exclusions and incapacitations are removed." --Thomas Jefferson: Notes on Religion, 1776. Papers 1:548
"As revolutionary instruments (when nothing but revolution will cure the evils of the State) [secret societies] are necessary and indispensable, and the right to use them is inalienable by the people." --Thomas Jefferson to William Duane, 1803. FE 8:256
Our state manifests numerous evils at the moment. How will the "free people" respond? Are they, like the protesters, to be carted off by authorities while leaders offer quippy platitudes? Let's hope our democratic foundation is deep enough to survive. That includes the oppressed rebelling and raising disturbances. It means secret societies working to cure the evils of the State. Will Thomas Jefferson of yesteryear prevail? Or will Bush's modern day interpretation, a watered down international version, win the day? Stay tuned...
