Presidents' Jefferson and Obama's Teachable Moments

As an old hoboclown detective,I decided to investigate the recent arrest of professor Henry Louis Gates . Oddly enough, my investigation lead me to my own 2007 blog archive and my post ,'July4th Reflections' . In that post, it is obvious that Professor Henry Louis Gates was not
around when President Jefferson had a teachable moment .It is fair to say that President Jefferson (as is President Obama and Professor Gates) was a scholar and rendered numerous
thoughts about a variety of issues affecting mankind. When I looked into the matter of the arrest of Professor Henry Louis Gates I actually found President Jefferson's writings, on
much larger issues and I am republishing them in this blog post :
July 4th Reflections
Hi Everybody,I'm Hoboclown.Flash Mc Cool has been in his cave searching for evidence that Thomas Jefferson was a serious student of Nature.Here's what Flash has to say," As the american revolution was uniting the colonies and as the newly- formed government was in its infancy,Thomas Jefferson demonstrated that he was a student of Nature,when he said,"Under the law of nature,all men are born free,every one into the world with a right to his own person,which includes the liberty of moving and using it at his own will.This is what is called personal liberty and is given him by the Author of nature,because necessary for his own sustenance"-Thomas Jefferson:Legal Argument: 1770 FE 1:376. Thomas Jefferson has also said the following,"I have sworn upon the altar of God,eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man." Jefferson frequently talked about the condition of man in the world," An equal application of law to every condition of man is fundamental"(Thomas Jefferson to George Hay,1807. ME 11:341). A similar quote was, " To unequal privileges among members of the same society the spirit of the nation is with one accord,adverse."(Thomas Jefferson to Hugh White,1801, ME 10:258 ). Likewise, Jefferson stated,"When one undertakes to administer justice,it must be with an even hand and by rule;what is done for one,must be done for everyone in equal degree." (Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Rush, 1803, ME 10:420). The following quotes were also recorded: "I have supposed the black man in his present state might not be (equal to the white man) but it would be hazardous to affirm that equally cultivated for a few generations, he would not become so."(Thomas Jefferson to Chastellux,1785.ME 5:6,Papers 8:186). Lastly,"Nothing is more certainly written in the book of fate than that these people(blacks) are to be free.Nor is it less certain that the two races,equally free cannot live in the same government.Nature,habit,opinion has drawn indelible lines of distinction between them."(Thomas Jefferson:Autobiography,1821.ME 1:72) . Yep, just when I thought I was the only one kept awake at night by old Mother Nature I concluded that she kept Thomas Jefferson up many a night as well, pondering about the fundamental questions of mankind. As night falls on Independence Day will you have a little insomnia from nagging thoughts ?" _____________ Happy 4th of July ! Love, Hoboclown Copyright,2007
Well, I guess teachable moments will always occur as long as there are scholarly reflections on important matters !