The True Patriot is a pamphlet written by a former policy advisor and an entrepreneur and venture capatalist about their views on patriotism and their political agenda...I thought that their views were interesting, but my favorite part was that they inserted all of their favorite speeches from former presidents and politicians to back up their arguments...if nothing else it is worth it to read the book for the all of speeches that they assembled...here are two of my favorites
"Let us then, fellow-citizens, unite with one heart and one mind. let us restore to social intercourse that harmony and affection without which liberty and even life itself are but dreary things. and let us reflect that, having banished from our land that religous intolerance under which mankind has so long bled and suffered, we have yet gained little if we coutenance a political intolerance as despotic, as wicked, and as capable of bloody persecutions."
-Thomas Jefferson
"I preach to you then my countrymen, that our country calls not for life of ease but for the like of strenuous endeavor. The twentieth century looms before us big with the fate of many nations. If we stand idly by, if we seek merely swollen, slothful and ignoble peace, if we shrink from the hard contests where men must win at hazard of their lives and at risk of what they hold dear, then the bolder and stronger peoples will pass us by, and will win for themselves domination of the world. Let us therefore boldly face the life of strife, resolute to do our duty well and manfully, resolute to uphold righteousness by deed and by word, resolute to be both honest and brave, to serve high ideals, yet to use practical methods. Above all, let us shrink from no strife, moral or physical, within or without the nation, provided we are certain that strife is justified. For it is only through strife, through hard and dangerous endeavor, that we shall ultimately win the goal of true national greatness."
-Theodore Roosevelt
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I especially liked this line in Jeffersons quote, "and let us reflect that, having banished from our land that religous intolerance under which mankind has so long bled and suffered."
Its amazing to see how strong the words of both these leaders/patriots were. Jefferson was so afraid of religous and political tyrants, while Teddy was afraid of European nations dominating the globe when he knew America could.
we have yet gained little if we coutenance a political intolerance as despotic, as wicked, and as capable of bloody persecutions.
This might be out of line, but I feel like this is where our political system is heading. We are now a two party system. Each party spends millions which could be spent in other places. Its impossiable to speak the truth and not spend millions of dollars and become president. I guess money does really rule the world. I do not believe however, that Thomas and the other founding fathers wanted it this way.
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