. . . . . entries for 17.11.05 . . . . .
The Jefferson paper, she may be bad, but she is done, damn it. I actually rather liked my past paragraph:
The three lines on Jefferson’s tombstone read with his three favorite accomplishments: the Declaration of Independence, the University of Virginia, and the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom. If the court could chisel out a line beneath those, it would read as follows:
An American Gentleman and a Noble Contradiction
The former half of the line, “An American Gentleman,” points out - not unjustly - that Jefferson’s hypocrisies are inherent in every American who is inspired by his words yet lives according to their own beliefs and preferences. That paradox, the allowance of divergent beliefs, was, after all, one of Jefferson’s dearest ideals. The view of Jefferson as a “Gentleman,” as well, is important to understanding his character, so quiet and desperate to avoid conflict; it is from his politeness and gentility that much of his contradictory nature comes. It also lifts him, but gently, down from his pedastal, and makes him into a man, not the American god we sometimes portray him as. Lastly, as presented by James Cox, Jefferson gave us an impossible credo - “all men are created equal” - and yet one never wishes it hadn’t been written. Jefferson, his writings, and his legacy are, in their entirety, a noble contradiction; perplexing and annoying, to say the very least, but still majestic and lasting. Thomas Jefferson’s words put every American into his mindset of dreaming an impossible but beautiful dream; for better or for worse, it will trouble us for many years to come.
come home?
.:people:.
{ting}
she looks like the real thing
{mari}
out and about
[kelsey]
THIS IS AMERICA
{yianni}
stop being depressed
{alisa}
other
[shannon]
close and far
{frank}
islands where no islands should go
[cassie]
eating knowledge
{colin}
my dm
[emily]
shoulder to the wheel
[brian]
nostalgic for fantasy
[nicole]
industry insider
{elle}
angry enviro
[matt]
never heard of miyazaki
[pirate dan]
are you reading this?
[olga]
distracted
[messiah dan]
messiah/believer
{max}
approach focus
[natalie]
wait a minute
[susan]
solitude
{greg}
manbeargreg
.:past:.
April 2002
May 2002
June 2002
July 2002
August 2002
September 2002
October 2002
November 2002
December 2002
January 2003
February 2003
March 2003
April 2003
May 2003
June 2003
July 2003
August 2003
September 2003
October 2003
November 2003
December 2003
January 2004
February 2004
March 2004
April 2004
May 2004
June 2004
July 2004
August 2004
September 2004
October 2004
November 2004
December 2004
January 2005
February 2005
March 2005
April 2005
May 2005
June 2005
July 2005
August 2005
September 2005
October 2005
November 2005
December 2005
January 2006
February 2006
March 2006
April 2006
May 2006
June 2006
July 2006
August 2006
September 2006
October 2006
November 2006
December 2006
January 2007
February 2007
March 2007
April 2007
May 2007
June 2007
July 2007
August 2007
September 2007
October 2007
November 2007
December 2007
January 2008
February 2008
March 2008
April 2008
May 2008
June 2008
July 2008
August 2008
September 2008
October 2008
November 2008
December 2008
January 2009
February 2009
March 2009
April 2009
May 2009
June 2009
July 2009
August 2009
September 2009
October 2009
November 2009
December 2009
January 2010
February 2010
March 2010
April 2010
May 2010
June 2010
July 2010
August 2010
September 2010
October 2010
November 2010
December 2010
January 2011
February 2011
March 2011
April 2011
May 2011
June 2011
July 2011
August 2011
November 2011
January 2012
February 2012
March 2012
June 2012
April 2013
May 2013
June 2013
.:skin:.
turtles! turtles! by araglas
(heavily modified by yours truly)