The original “Man of the People,” Thomas Jefferson, was born on April 13 in 1743. Jefferson is best known for drafting the Declaration of Independence, but he also wrote prolifically and prophetically on education. “If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects …
Everyone ascending the steps of the National Archives building sees these words chiseled in stone: “Eternal Vigilance is the Price of Liberty.” No one was more vigilant than Judge Robert Bork, who passed away in December, in courageously defending principles that make our liberty possible. In 1968, then a Yale …
Barack Obama has compared himself to many Presidents. First he ran as Abraham Lincoln reincarnated. He even appealed to the spirit of Ronald Reagan. Then he tried to govern like Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR). He campaigned for re-election as Harry Truman running against a “do-nothing” Congress. He’s been to Osawatomie, …
Did you know that yesterday was Religious Freedom Day in America? It didn’t get a lot of attention, since President Obama was busy signing executive orders, but he also put out a proclamation on religious freedom. “Because of the protections guaranteed by our Constitution, each of us has the right …
Who knew that telling people they have rights would be so controversial? In his nationally televised address Wednesday night, Representative Paul Ryan (R-WI) reminded Americans that “our rights come from nature and God, not from government.” MSNBC’s Chris Matthews went apoplectic. “It’s clear that Paul Ryan was talking to people …
Today, on Thomas Jefferson’s birthday, we remember the man who can list as his crowning achievement the Declaration of Independence. But with the Obamacare contraceptive mandate still fresh in our memories, perhaps it would be good to remember another aspect of Jefferson’s legacy: his staunch commitment to religious liberty. Jefferson …
Silly Brits. After all these years, they still don’t understand natural rights. During a moot debate last week at Franklin Hall in Philadelphia, British lawyers argued that the 1776 American Declaration of Independence was not only illegal, but actually treasonable. “There is no legal principle then or now to allow …
In this week’s Heritage in Focus, Research Fellow Ryan Messmore discusses the role of religion in politics. Tune in here. Are younger generations moving more toward secularism or religiosity? How do religious believers approach the national dialogue when they want to instill the importance of religion but respect the separation …
Today we celebrate the birthday of the man who united the colonies with mere parchment and pen. As we remember the legacy of Thomas Jefferson, we commemorate the document that embodies the principles of America. At the age of thirty-three, Thomas Jefferson accepted the challenge of writing the Declaration of …
