Celebrating independence from ignorance
Adams and Jefferson were the nation's second and third presidents, and two of only three living signers of the Declaration of Independence. They are also the two Founding Fathers most responsible for the existence of this document. Jefferson is well recognized as the author of the original draft. Less well known is the fact that Adams was instrumental in persuading the members of the Continental Congress to officially approve the final document.
Jefferson was an eloquent writer, but an ineffective speaker. Adams, on the other hand, was a very forceful orator and debater. He spent many months addressing meetings of the Congress as the most effective and passionate advocate of Independence. It has been said that Jefferson was the "pen" and Adams the "voice" of independence.
Adams was 90 and Jefferson 83 as July 4, 1826, approached, and both were near death. However, both were determined to live long enough to witness the 50th anniversary of the historic event in which each played such a prominent role. Both succeeded. Adams' final public oration was delivered June 30. A small delegation from the town of Quincy, Mass., went to his bedside and asked if he would give a toast that could be read aloud at the upcoming celebration. He responded, "I will give you independence forever!" Adams' 90-year-old mind was still agile and passionate. Jefferson's last written document was a June 24 letter addressed to the mayor of Washington, in which he declined an invitation to participate in that city's Fourth of July celebration. He wrote, "May it be to the world, what I believe it will be (to some parts sooner, to others later, but finally to all) the signal of arousing men to burst the chains under which monkish ignorance and superstition had persuaded them to bind themselves, and to assume the blessings and security of self-government. . .. All eyes are opened or opening to the rights of man. The general spread of the light of science has already laid open to every view the palpable truth that the mass of mankind has not been born with saddles on their backs, nor a favored few, booted and spurred, ready to ride them by the grace of God. These are the grounds of hope for others; for ourselves, let the annual return to this day forever refresh our recollections of these rights, and an undiminished devotion to them."
Jefferson, at the point of death, was rarely more eloquent. We should note that the reference to "monkish ignorance and superstition" is as relevant today as it was then. Consequently, many continue to be blind to "the light of science" -- e.g., global warming, stem-cell research and evolution. This is a point that merits further comment.
The mass of scientific discovery and enlightenment that has occurred since 1826 is quite remarkable. Yet the power of "monkish ignorance and superstition" persists. The attacks on the teaching of evolution by religious fundamentalists provide a good contemporary illustration of this phenomenon. By rejecting the overwhelming factual evidence in support of the scientific theory of evolution, the fundamentalists demonstrate a profound ignorance of, and disrespect for, the scientific method of distinguishing truth from falsehood. Belief in the God of Genesis is closely related to this anti- science behavior.
Ann Druyan -- widow of Carl Sagan and his collaborator in creating "The Cosmos," the acclaimed educational TV series -- has pointed out that the God of Genesis is inimical both to the values of science and the values of the Founding Fathers. This God administered severe punishment to those who dared to ask questions and partake of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge. This is what scientists do. Further, in the words of Druyan, "Our nation was founded on a heroic act of disobedience to a king who was presumed to rule by divine right. We created social and legal mechanisms to institutionalize the questioning of authority. ... It's the most original thing about us, our greatest contribution to global civilization."
I suspect that John Adams and Thomas Jefferson would agree.