{"id":852,"date":"2012-11-02T12:01:30","date_gmt":"2012-11-02T16:01:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/theworthingtonpost\/?p=852"},"modified":"2015-01-11T23:46:49","modified_gmt":"2015-01-12T04:46:49","slug":"whos-that-guy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/theworthingtonpost\/2012\/11\/whos-that-guy\/","title":{"rendered":"Who’s THAT guy?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Once upon a time, there was a man named Dr. Benjamin Rush<\/a>. \u00a0Never heard of him? \u00a0Not surprising, even though he was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and helped ratify the Constitution of the United States. \u00a0He was beloved in his time, spent much of his medical career helping the poor, was an advocate for abolition of both slavery and the death penalty, supporter of education for boys AND girls, and while serving as a doctor in the Continental army, criticized and called for the removal of George Washington as head of the army. \u00a0(p.s. \u00a0That last was a bad career move.)<\/p>\n

Anywho, he was also very close friends with a couple of guys who were a little more famous \u2013 John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. \u00a0Adams and Jefferson<\/a> were compadres during the signing of the Declaration of Independence, their time in France as ambassadors, and remained close until the presidential election of 1800. \u00a0Jefferson\u2019s narrow defeat of Adams and their political differences left them bitterly estranged for years.<\/p>\n

Nine years later, Dr. Rush had a dream<\/a>. \u00a0In it, both Adams and Jefferson had retired, began corresponding and renewed their old friendship. \u00a0Excited and moved by the dream, as he was deeply bothered by their estrangement, he wrote to Adams and Jefferson each to describe it. \u00a0Adams and Jefferson received the letters from their mutual friend with open hearts and minds, began a tentative correspondence with one another, (it so happens, this was on my birth day and month \u2013 May 27th<\/a> \u2013 emerald\u2019s my birthstone, and I love jewelry, in case any of you are so inclined)<\/em> and with the benefit of hindsight and wisdom to guide them, they became closer than ever.<\/p>\n

Eerily, another part of Dr. Rush\u2019s dream came true. \u00a0Rush dreamed that Adams and Jefferson \u201csunk into the grave nearly at the same time, full of years and rich in the gratitude and praises of their country.\u201d\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0 John Adams and Thomas Jefferson indeed died within hours of one another, on July 4, 1826. \u00a0Fifty years\u00a0to the day<\/em> after signing the Declaration of Independence. \u00a0Adams even died with Thomas Jefferson\u2019s name on his lips<\/a>.<\/p>\n

I think it\u2019s safe to say that Dr. Rush did his country a great service by helping these two living legends reconcile. \u00a0Thomas Jefferson and John Adams wrote volumes of letters to one another as a result\u00a0(also a great birthday gift\u2026<\/a>)\u00a0<\/em>from which I\u2019m sure we could all learn a lot.<\/p>\n

In January 1787, Benjamin Rush delivered an address to the American People<\/a> at the American Museum in Philadelphia. \u00a0In it he pointed out what he believed was the misinterpretation of two words which he wanted to correct. \u00a0The first was regarding the word \u201csovereignty.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is often said, that \u201cthe sovereign and all other power is seated\u00a0in\u00a0the people.\u201d This idea is unhappily expressed. It should be\u2014\u201dall the power is derived\u00a0from\u00a0the people.\u201d They possess it only on the days of their elections. After this, it is the property of their rulers, nor can they exercise or resume it, unless it is abused. It is of importance to circulate this idea, as it leads to order and good government.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The people of America have mistaken the meaning of the word sovereignty: hence each state pretends to be\u00a0sovereign. In Europe, it is applied only to those states which possess the power of making war and peace\u2014of forming treaties, and the like. As this power belongs only to congress, they are the only\u00a0sovereign\u00a0power in the united states.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The second was regarding the word \u201cindependent.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe commit a similar mistake in our ideas of the word independent. No individual state, as such, has any claim to independence. She is independent only in a union with her sister states in congress.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201c\u201dAll the power is derived FROM the people.\u201d \u00a0They possess it only on the DAYS OF THEIR ELECTIONS.\u201d \u00a0(capitals mine.) Individual states are \u201cindependent ONLY IN A UNION WITH HER SISTER STATES in congress.\u201d \u00a0(capitals mine.)<\/p>\n

Dr. Benjamin Rush held many views with which I disagree. \u00a0Yet, I am grateful for and respect the common thread he wove throughout his life and through his legacy. \u00a0Bitter political enemies can reconcile and be friends. \u00a0The country would be better for that. \u00a0States can only be independent if they are working as a union with their fellow states in Congress. \u00a0The country would be better for that, too. \u00a0And if you need me to connect the dots between these lessons and recent events and behaviors of our leaders in times of crisis (I\u2019m looking at you, President Obama and Governor Christie,) let me know. \u00a0 I\u2019m happy to help.<\/p>\n

And please, don\u2019t forget to vote.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Once upon a time, there was a man named Dr. Benjamin Rush. \u00a0Never heard of him? \u00a0Not surprising, even though he was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and helped ratify the Constitution of the United States. \u00a0He was beloved in his time, spent much of his medical career helping the poor, was an […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1603,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,5],"tags":[24,103,120,135,142,180,230,437],"class_list":["post-852","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-a-life-peopleeducationrandom","category-b-liberty-genderpoliticsreligion","tag-american-history","tag-coming-together","tag-current-events","tag-dr-benjamin-rush","tag-election-2012","tag-get-out-the-vote","tag-john-adams","tag-thomas-jefferson"],"yoast_head":"\nWho's THAT guy?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Once upon a time, there was a man named Dr. Benjamin Rush. \u00a0Never heard of him? 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