Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The Other Michael · 07-03-2002, 08:20 PM

The 07/03/02 San Francisco Chronicle had a pre-Independence Day column by Rob Morse, one of their regular writers. It was called <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2002/07/03/MN194681.DTL" target="_blank">Sadly, america's leading lights are lightweights</a>

He spent some time bringing up Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" and "The Rights of Man".

Noticing the absence of Paine's other major work, I figured I could write in a letter with a bit of a slant on the Pledge pandering that has been going on:

Quote:

rmorse@sfchronicle.com

Dear Mr. Morse,

Thank you for showcasing Thomas Paine in your column today.

Paine is often overlooked by most Americans, which is sad as a case can be made that without him there would never have been a revolution.

Why did you end your column before including his last major work "The Age of Reason"?

Considering all of the calls last week by our elected officials to put "God" back into government (and the President's call for a religious litmus test for any future court nominees) some discussion of Paine's last great work would have been very appropriate.

yours,
Michael Moore

We've got to look for chances to write in - don't focus too narrowly on articles that just deal with the PoA.

cheers,
Michael

JohnR · 07-03-2002, 09:06 PM

I remembering reading somewhere that Thomas Paine was a role model for Abraham Lincoln. A great writer who always gets overlooked this time of year.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

07-03-2002, 09:06 PM	#2
JohnR Senior Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Eastern PNW Posts: 572	I remembering reading somewhere that Thomas Paine was a role model for Abraham Lincoln. A great writer who always gets overlooked this time of year.

Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The archives are read only.