At a Fourth of July celebration at Monticello (Jefferson’s home) President Bush misquoted Jefferson. Here’s what Bush said:
On the 50th anniversary of America’s independence, Thomas Jefferson passed away. But before leaving this world, he explained that the principles of the Declaration of Independence were universal. In one of the final letters of his life, he wrote, “May it be to the world, what I believe it will be — to some parts sooner, to others later, but finally to all — the signal of arousing men to burst the chains, and to assume the blessings and security of self-government.”
But what Jefferson actually wrote contains an anti-religious statement:
May it be to the world, what I believe it will be, (to some parts sooner, to others later, but finally to all) the signal of arousing men to burst the chains under which monkish ignorance and superstition had persuaded them to bind themselves, and to assume the blessings and security of self-government.
It is ironic that Bush, who edited Jefferson, so actively promotes “monkish ignorance and superstition”.
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This is another case of the reader “interpreting” what was said, muych like what is done with the Constitution. Further down in Jefferson’s letter is the sentence: “the palpable truth, that the mass of mankind has not been born with saddles on their backs, nor a favored few booted and spurred, ready to ride them legitimately, by the grace of god. these are grounds of hope for others.
If you’re going to ridicule others by saying that the statement they’re quoting is actually saying the opposite of the point they’re trying to make, you might want to read the whole thing, not interpret it and try to discern the point the original author was, in reality, making. In his own words, not your out of context interpretation.
As an independent votor, I can’t help but think what may help me to remain an independent. After the way this bush attacked Kerry, after all the stupidity this bush has shown not only us the American people, but the world. I must say, I am a very strong future Democrat. The idiot we have in office will be gone in about three weeks, and I realize that it will take some time we as a Nation can recover from this idiots last eight years of stupidity, I will work very hard to change to a full Democrat supporter.
Why have we not been attacked again? What for? We are shooting ourselves in the foot in Iraq. Why worry about attacking us here. The idiot that sent us there (to Iraq) didn’t even serve his own country when in the military. Not only is he an idiot, (may not be his fault that he was born that way) but a coward he is!
The ignorance of both Bush presidents is completely overwhelming. It’s frustrating to know that a good portion of the religious right still believe them good if not great presidents. I guess their true faith is nonsence; a true leap into ignorance.
As far as Bush preventing further attacks, that is just nonsense. No other terrorists come close to the amount of deaths have been caused by the USA’s CIA terrorists.
The monkish ignorance and superstition he is referring to backs the idea that God ordained some to be the riders and others to be the horses. SO the statement that follows, further dwn in the document that — “mankind has NOT been born with saddles on their backs, NOR a favored few booted and spurred, ready to ride them legitimately — BY THE GRACE OF GOD” Is a continuation of his rebuttal of what he considers the monkish ignorance. It does not contradict the point; it continues it. Apparently you , Mousie, and mister bush like to twist the statements of the founding fathers just the way you like to twist the scriptures.