We stand in the shadow of Jefferson who believed that a society founded upon the rule of law and liberty was dependent upon public education and the diffusion of knowledge.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
Democracy as a system has evolved into something that Thomas Jefferson didn't anticipate.
We must believe in the power of education. We must respect just laws. We must love ourselves, our old and or young, our women as well as our men.
It is easily and often overlooked that when Thomas Jefferson asserted that life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness were inalienable human rights, he did so on the ground that they had been endowed by God, our Creator.
The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty.
Our nation was founded on the principals of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
I've led a school whose faculty and students examine and discuss and debate every aspect of our law and legal system. And what I've learned most is that no one has a monopoly on truth or wisdom. I've learned that we make progress by listening to each other, across every apparent political or ideological divide.
We had many books and pictures... my parents' way of life doubtless left a lasting impression on me. They created an atmosphere in which a certain kind of freedom could exist. This may well account for my seeking a related sense of liberty as I grew up.
Widespread public access to knowledge, like public education, is one of the pillars of our democracy, a guarantee that we can maintain a well-informed citizenry.
My education was the liberty I had to read indiscriminately and all the time, with my eyes hanging out.
In Jefferson's mind democracy was tantamount to extreme individualism.