I do not mean to detract from the first post but I think that everybody here needs to address this one. Here is my response:
To the editor and the people of Camden,
After reading the article online regarding the recitation of the "Declaration in school," I am both shocked and horrified that the people of Camden actually elected a historically ignorant Senator such as Wayne Bryant. I disagree with his opposition for the passage of the bill for numerous reasons.
First, he opposes the bill because it is an attempt to micro-manage the educational system. As a city / state level representative, that is his job. In these times where it is considered sheik to relinquish all thoughts of personal responsibility and control the Federal Government, there are those who remember that the best way to deal with local issues is through the local legislature. The people of New Jersey want this for their schools and they pay for the right to micro-manage their public schools. They accomplish this management through school boards and you, Wayne Bryant. Do your job Senator, and micro-manage.
Second and most repugnant, is this Senator who swore to uphold the Constitution of the United States and the State Charter of New Jersey has personally determined that the Preamble to one of the most historically significant documents is illegitimate in this time and space. Senator and the people of Camden, the facts of history are irrefutable, some of the founding fathers were slave owners, some were anarchist, some could be considered vandals, murderers and thieves; however, all of these foibles and vices, which are undeniable due not detract from the legitimacy of the Constitution. If the Senator had spent anytime reading his history book instead of trying to burn it, he would have learned that Thomas Jefferson had written a rather dissenting view of slavery, almost to the point of outlawing it. Yes, he owned slaves, he was a product of his time, but to totally discriminate his work without research into his person is plain wrong. The clause against slavery was removed to pass it through the Continental Congress. No, as I do not defend slavery, I do not deny it either.
It is time to stop thinking along politically correct lines and denying history. Women and minorities did play important roles in the annuls of history: Crispus Attucks, a freed slave, was one of the five people slain at the Boston Massacre. Since the Senator has forgotten his history lessons- the Boston Massacre was the result of a British Patrol firing into a rioting crowd who were protesting the Townsend Acts of 1770, it was one of the events leading up to the War. I do not understand nor should the American people condone the ignorance of history by their leaders. Would the feats or works of John Henry or Marie Curie or Booker T. Washington or Harriet Tubman escape this generation because our leaders do not know or deny them.
It is not the Preamble's "job" to educate children on the roles of women and minorities in history, it is that of the teacher to discuss the significance of these roles- to fill in the blanks. As the "feel good 'soccer mom'" movement further strips us of our inalienable rights guaranteed by the Constitution and Bill of Rights, let us teach our children about the freedoms that my parents enjoyed, that I am losing, and that they will never have.
Regards,
Dan Huben
_______________________________________________________________________
Daniel J. Huben, P.E., MSEng
Sr. Engineer
Colorado Interstate Gas Co.
POB 1087 Colorado Springs, CO 80944
(719) 520-4407 : Daniel.Huben@coastalcorp.com
To the editor and the people of Camden,
After reading the article online regarding the recitation of the "Declaration in school," I am both shocked and horrified that the people of Camden actually elected a historically ignorant Senator such as Wayne Bryant. I disagree with his opposition for the passage of the bill for numerous reasons.
First, he opposes the bill because it is an attempt to micro-manage the educational system. As a city / state level representative, that is his job. In these times where it is considered sheik to relinquish all thoughts of personal responsibility and control the Federal Government, there are those who remember that the best way to deal with local issues is through the local legislature. The people of New Jersey want this for their schools and they pay for the right to micro-manage their public schools. They accomplish this management through school boards and you, Wayne Bryant. Do your job Senator, and micro-manage.
Second and most repugnant, is this Senator who swore to uphold the Constitution of the United States and the State Charter of New Jersey has personally determined that the Preamble to one of the most historically significant documents is illegitimate in this time and space. Senator and the people of Camden, the facts of history are irrefutable, some of the founding fathers were slave owners, some were anarchist, some could be considered vandals, murderers and thieves; however, all of these foibles and vices, which are undeniable due not detract from the legitimacy of the Constitution. If the Senator had spent anytime reading his history book instead of trying to burn it, he would have learned that Thomas Jefferson had written a rather dissenting view of slavery, almost to the point of outlawing it. Yes, he owned slaves, he was a product of his time, but to totally discriminate his work without research into his person is plain wrong. The clause against slavery was removed to pass it through the Continental Congress. No, as I do not defend slavery, I do not deny it either.
It is time to stop thinking along politically correct lines and denying history. Women and minorities did play important roles in the annuls of history: Crispus Attucks, a freed slave, was one of the five people slain at the Boston Massacre. Since the Senator has forgotten his history lessons- the Boston Massacre was the result of a British Patrol firing into a rioting crowd who were protesting the Townsend Acts of 1770, it was one of the events leading up to the War. I do not understand nor should the American people condone the ignorance of history by their leaders. Would the feats or works of John Henry or Marie Curie or Booker T. Washington or Harriet Tubman escape this generation because our leaders do not know or deny them.
It is not the Preamble's "job" to educate children on the roles of women and minorities in history, it is that of the teacher to discuss the significance of these roles- to fill in the blanks. As the "feel good 'soccer mom'" movement further strips us of our inalienable rights guaranteed by the Constitution and Bill of Rights, let us teach our children about the freedoms that my parents enjoyed, that I am losing, and that they will never have.
Regards,
Dan Huben
_______________________________________________________________________
Daniel J. Huben, P.E., MSEng
Sr. Engineer
Colorado Interstate Gas Co.
POB 1087 Colorado Springs, CO 80944
(719) 520-4407 : Daniel.Huben@coastalcorp.com