Series 2558: Constituent Correspondence, 2000-2003
38649
From: <larry_arnn@claremont.org> To: RM.GOV_PO.GOV_MAIL Created: 1/20/2000 1:15 PM Subject: Claremont Institute Precepts: 'Crossing' the Line of Fact and Fiction Message: The Claremont Institute--PRECEPTS | | January 20, 2000 Visit <http://www.claremont.org> | | No. 211 The story of young George Washington's inability to lie about chopping down a cherry tree first appeared in 1806, in the fifth edition of a small biography of Washington by the Reverend Mason Weems. The story was later adopted by McGuffey's Reader and became for years the best-known anecdote about Washington's life. Although the story was a fabrication, we can say with confidence that it illuminated a truth about Washington, who by all accounts was extraordinarily honest. Contrast with this the recent A&E Network movie about Washington, "The Crossing." Like Rev. Weems, the makers of this movie fabricated an anecdote about Washington's life. Specifically, they invented an exchange between Washington and one of his officers, after the Battle of Trenton, in which they seem to agree that the American Revolution was driven by a base desire for profit, i.e., by opposition to British taxes, and thus that Washington's soldiers were not morally distinguishable from the Hessian mercenaries they had just defeated. The great difference with this fabrication is that it flatly contradicts all historical evidence. Let us begin with the fact that the colonists were, in fact, paying various taxes at the time, both to Britain and to their own local governments. These taxes were low, as taxes ought to be. Their position was not that Britain could not tax them. Rather it was that Britain could not tax them for the purpose of gaining revenue (as opposed to tariffs to regulate trade) without their consent. They called this taxation without representation, and identified it as a form of slavery. Let us also consider that on July 2, 1776, less than six months before the action of "The Crossing," Washington addressed his army in these words: "The eyes of all our countrymen are now upon us, and we shall have their blessings and praises if, happily, we are the instruments of saving them from the tyranny meditated against them. Let us therefore animate and encourage each other, and show the whole world, that a freeman contending for liberty on his own ground is superior to any slavish mercenary on earth." However cynically we might view the American Revolution today, the revolutionaries themselves did not understand their cause as base or mercenary. They described it in plain language as the cause of self-government, which they understood in light of the principles announced in the Declaration of Independence two days after Washington addressed his army. It is one thing to interpret history, and another to rewrite it. The first invites debate, the second demands condemnation. I invite you to read more about "The Crossing" in an article by Institute Senior Fellow Doug Jeffrey at http://www.claremont.org/publications/jeffrey000120.cfm, or go to our home page at http://www.claremont.org. I then encourage you to send a message to A&E, protesting its blatant historical dishonesty, at http://www.aande.com/feedback/feedback.html. Sincerely, Larry P. Arnn President, The Claremont Institute ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright (c) 2000 The Claremont Institute To subscribe to Precepts, go to: http://www.claremont.org/1_precepts.cfm , or e-mail us at info@claremont.org . To be removed from this list, go to : http://www.claremont.org/remove_public.cfm , or e-mail us at info@claremont.org . For general correspondence or additional information about the Claremont Institute, e-mail : info@claremont.org , or visit our website at : http://www.claremont.org . Changing your e-mail address? Please let us know at : info@claremont.org . For press inquiries, contact Tim Caspar at tcaspar@claremont.org or (909) 621-6825. The mission of the Claremont Institute for the Study of Statesmanship and Political Philosophy is to restore the principles of the American Founding to their rightful, preeminent authority in our national life. The Claremont Institute | 250 West First Street | Suite 330 | Claremont, CA 91711 | Phone (909) 621-6825 | Fax (909) 626-8724 - Attachment Filename: C:\archives\governor\mail\Governor Musgrove\_attach\Claremont Institute Precepts_ 'Crossing' the Line of Fact and Fiction\Mime.822
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