Just another position!

Monday – July 18, 2011

Just another position!

On today’s date, in 1768, The Boston Gazette published “The Liberty Song”. This is the first patriotic song ever published in America. The song went like this:
Come, join hand in hand, brave Americans all, And rouse your bold hearts at fair Liberty's call; No tyrannous acts shall suppress your just claim, Or stain with dishonor America's name.
In Freedom we're born and in Freedom we'll live .Our purses are ready. Steady, friends, steady; Not as slaves, but as Freemen our money we'll give.
Our worthy forefathers, let's give them a cheer, To climates unknown did courageously steer; Thro' oceans to deserts for Freedom they came, And dying, bequeath'dus their freedom and fame.
The tree their own hands had to Liberty rear'd, They lived to behold growing strong and revered; With transport they cried, Now our wishes we gain, For our children shall gather the fruits of our pain.
Then join hand in hand, brave Americans all, By uniting we stand, by dividing we fall; In so righteous a cause let us hope to succeed, For heaven approves of each generous deed.
“The Liberty Song” was written when John Dickinson set out to reflect on the political strife caused by the Townshend Acts of 1767. These were the latest in a series of British crown taxes levied in the Colonies. The song reflected his position. He wrote the words to fit the famous music of the anthem of the British Royal Navy which is the “Heart of Oak.” Dickinson adapted the lyrics from David Garrick who wrote the music to celebrate the three great victories of the Seven Year’s War.
When Dickenson wrote the lyrics, he knew about John Hancock’s ship, the Liberty, which had been seized by the authorities for smuggling. This seizure, along with anger over the acts, precipitated riots and led to the declaration of suspension of English imports by the Boston merchants in August of 1768 which were to begin on December 31.

“The Liberty Song” was sung throughout the colonies at political meetings, dinners and celebrations; it is likely that it was the first song to express American patriotism. The most famous passage in the song is the source of a phrase known to many Americans today: “By uniting we stand, by dividing we fall.” Loyalty withstanding, Dickenson still worried about his conservative form and that the lyrics were to “fiery.”

Every day, when I sit down to put my position out there, I give great thought to the words I write. I give great thought as to if I’m right or if I am wrong. I give great thought as to what people are thinking all the time. I give great thought and wonder if I am touching a nerve or if people are just sloughing off what I write. None the less, I still take a position, because I believe if you have one you should let it be known. I make my positions known, because I can - but more importantly, because I care about the positions that others take. If you have a position and don’t let it be known you shouldn’t complain. But then again that just me, writing another position!

I believe John Dickenson believed in that, as well. He was an American lawyer and politician from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Wilmington, Delaware. He was a militia officer during the American Revolution. He was a Continental Congressman from Pennsylvania and Delaware. He was a delegate to the U.S. Constitutional Convention of 1787. He was considered to be one of the wealthiest men in the colonies at the time. He realized that when government or even a King taxes the wealth then wealth ceases to exist.

He is known as the “penman of the Revolution” for writing his “letters from a farmer in Pennsylvania”; upon receiving news of his death on February 14, 1808 President Jefferson recognized his as being “among the first of the advocates for the rights of his country when assailed by Great Britain” whose “name will be consecrated in history as one of the great worthies of the revolution.” He is the namesake of Dickenson College and Penn State University’s Dickenson School of Law.

John Dickenson knew that his positions would be known through his writings and through song. I am not comparing myself to the greatness he achieved, but there is a similarity. We both put pen to paper. His, of course, was recognized as being great. Unfortunately, that sometimes comes with death. So I am not too anxious to achieve greatness, if that is when it is measured. However, the positions that I take are based on beliefs that haven’t changed from the time of Jefferson and Dickenson. That is a position!

The President said over the weekend when asked about the debt dilemma: “We are asking the wealthiest Americans to pay their fair share.” This is also a position, but this position is also one that caused a revolution. That revolution was started by a song and through letters that took an opposing position.

The President said over the weekend when asked about the debt dilemma: “The problem is members of Congress are dug in ideologically, because they have boxed themselves into various positions.” What does this mean? As I see it, it is just another way the President can blame someone else for his failures. This is my position.

We have a president that has done nothing but blame or divert blame and plan parties around his golf game. You could make a song out of that, but I’m not going there. Or you could write a letter or write a FORUM that states a position and that is read by hundreds, thousands and possibly millions and that is where I am willing to go to get my position across!

Gregory C. Dildilian
Founder and Executive Director
Pinecone Conservatives

A footnote: I hope that my positions are taking hold. I hope my positions aren’t too “fiery” or considered just another position, if they are just bear with me, because it is all for a purpose! That’s all I am going to say on that position.