Thomas Paine: The Man Who Taught Us That America Is Radical To Its Core

An Independence Day look back at the radical influence of Thomas Paine, the often-overlooked founding father whose words sparked the American Revolution. Get more videos from the American News Project here. Watch the video on Paine below:

Comments

[ohiomark]

While Thomas Paine's ideas were good ones, they were only considered "radical" by England. They were not happy with anyone breaking away from their empire.

"Radicals" that want to "change" America into something totally different should take the advice of the Founding Father's and go start your own country. You can have San Francisco. We will just fence it off.

[SiberianRat]

No, we'll take this one back, thank you.

[Hopalongpoppyseed]

Then I will go to San Francisco and enjoy the best Chinese food while you Ohio Mark, will be stuck with biscuits and gravy. Go Michigan!

[jbeach]

Awesome! So, all radicals who want to change America by overturning Roe v. Wade, eliminating affirmative action, invade Iran, cut taxes for the wealthy - they should all go start their own country.

Right?

I'm totally agreed. Sounds awesome. Shall we point the way to the border?

[truthynesslover]

We just need to give the southern states back!

[3dtrix]

The pendulum is swinging, ohiomark, and you and your like-minded troglodytes only have yourselves to blame; Bush, Cheney, Rove et al and the so-called Patriot Act have been to the American body politic what the swarm of Japanese Zeros were to a sleeping Pearl Harbor - you have awakened us in alarm by the millions. We see clearly the damage your attacks to the country we love have done; columns of acrid smoke rise from every sector.

We are done with being bullied. Look around, the bully-packs are being broken up even now.

We are done with I-know-you­-are-but-w­hat-am-I elementary-school level debate like you deliver in your post.

It is true that in times past, those you deride as liberals were too busy "doing our own thing" to take you and yours seriously, but no more; if need be I will spend the rest of my life making sure the bigoted, the hateful, the exploitive, the environmentally destructive, and the willfully ignorant resume their rightful place on the margins of our society.

And I am not alone. Remember what happened after Pearl Harbor?

Consider us the sleeping giant.

[speakingtruth2power]

Spoken like a true patriot!!!!!!!!

[RTIII]

Right there with you, 3D - "got your back."

Our numbers are legion. I see people turning to support our cause, even those seemingly least likely to have a change of heart, or open an eye.

And many of our "doing our own thing" was fighting the good fight while we waited, patiently, for the tide to turn and to be joined by others.

[Davwbaird]

another Paine was a pai in the ass of tyrants "He who is the author of a war lets loose the whole contagion of hell and opens a vein that bleeds a nation to death".
Thomas Paine

[OETKB]

Paine's answer to Jeremiah Burke, "The Rights of Man," stands as the quintessential argument of liberal versus conservative as he explains the course of the French Revolution. He insists that a contemporary society should not have to burdened with the mistaken laws, policies, and traditions of the past. As he put it, those not living should not be the determiners of our fates of those who are.

[Davwbaird]

A thought about our current situation with a press that has become the propaganda machine of the state He that would make his own liberty secure must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself.
Thomas Paine

[bison2]

Good point! (Edmund Burke)

[OETKB]

Thanks for the correction.

[qdog112]

Thanks - I needed that.

[nellieh]

I found it Ironic I was listening to a video about Thomas Paine and his writings when his antithesis, George Bush, came on TV with more of his BS. He has done more trying to wreck this country than any President who preceeded him..

[Davwbaird]

Thomas Paine, a homosexual? Likely.

[Hopalongpoppyseed]

"Not that there's anything wrong with that."

[AmbroseChapel]

Great post! Thanks.

[Davwbaird]

Thomas Paine All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian or Turkish, appear to me no other than human inventions, set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit.
Thomas Paine

[truthynesslover]

Oh come on! are you trying to say that not all the founding fathers were devout christians?

[OETKB]

On finishing the "Age of Reason" he showed it to Benjamin Franklin who thought it was brilliant but advised him not to publish it. Franklin feared for the safety of his good friend with good reason.