On his show on Tues. July 1, Thom Hartmann read part (all? I tuned in late) of the Declaration of Independence, and discussed some of the consequences that signing this document had for some of the signatories. Many lost their freedom, families, fortunes, and/or lives for a cause that could easily have failed. I believe that up till now I have underestimated the courage it took the Founders to put their names to that revolutionary document.
Even though this painting, popularly believed to depict the signing of the Declaration, really shows the presentation of the Declaration to the Congress by the drafting committee, it still seems appropriate.
Although as I appreciated years after schoolbook history, a number of our revolutionary leaders were seasoned veterans of the French and Indian wars and other western frontier conflict, they had some experience with high risk for gain.
The revolutionary’s also did some dire deeds on the Tory’s and even folks who tried to stay out of it all.
L DeGroff
July 4th, 2008