Adams deserves obscurity

Denver Post ^ | 19 mar 08 | Ed Quillen

[Liberty Valance]

So far, HBO and Tom Hanks have done an excellent job bringing these great historic characters to life. Most will never read the book this mini-series is based on or remember the short generalized version in their high school textbooks. These were great men who risked all they had to bring Independence and Freedom to a young America.

[Corin Stormhands]

Having grown up in Mass. and living for a while in Weymouth and Quincy (the Adams’ hometowns), I find it a little funny that he’s considered “obscure”.

Heh...probably similar to my growing up in Virginia experience. When I took American History in college and we focused on Massachusetts, my first thought was "why are we talking about these guys?"

[Corin Stormhands]

I’ve been impressed with David Morse’s Washington.

He growed up good after St. Elsewhere, didn't he?

[wideawake]

True enough.

Actually, not true at all.

The Sedition Act did not criminalize criticism of the Federal government.

What it did was effectively criminalize libel against the Federal government - as if the Federal government was a individual who could be injured by libelous publications.

It wasn't a good law and Jefferson was right in allowing it to expire - but don't let's pretend that it was something different than it was.

[Clemenza]

Adams has received all the credit he deserved, a smart man with poor social skills who was ill-equipped to be president.

If anyone of the founders is OVERRATED it is that Proto-Limo Liberal Jacobin symphathizer Jefferson. Cheering on European radicalism from his huge plantation. The fact that he died nearly bankrupt (from excessive traveling and wine collecting, among other things) really provides insight into the temperment/fiscal responsability of TJ.

Hamilton, Washington, and Madison are my faves. The only good thing the AntiFederalists gave us was the Bill of Rights.

[babble-on]

The actual physical draft of the Declaration with Franklin’s edits, the exact ones in the film, exists today.

http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/declara/images/draft1.jpg

[AmericaUnite]

I’m sure your expertise is called for here.

[wideawake]

The only problem I have is when Ben Franklin was reviewing the draft of the declaration with Adams and Jefferson and he about a line in it being too pulpity or preachy as if to insinuate faith has no part in the declaration of independence.

Yes, that rang false.

[aft_lizard]

But was it changed based on it being too religious?

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

The Sedition Act of 1798

Sedition Act of 1798 – A Brief History of Arrests, Indictments, Mistreatment & Abuse

[Dysart]

mark

[nobdysfool]

Well, I have to admit I’m biased. My son is an extra in the film.

Hey, that's pretty cool! I missed my one and only opportunity to be an extra in Shawshank Redemption, which was filmed (at least the outside scenes) close to where I lived, in Mansfield OH. The old Ohio State Reformatory has been used by Hollywood for several films, including Tango and Cash, and a brief scene in AirForce One.

How are ya, Corin? Haven't talked in quite a while.

[Pyro7480]

I will never give HBO another chance to revise history since I saw their dramatization of the Chicago Seven trial.

It really depends on the production company. McCullough was involved in this production, so I don't think this is going to be revised history.

[allmendream]

I believe they were sheep herders, not cowboys. Cattlemen have never liked sheep herders and would probably appreciate their characterization in “Bareback Mtn”.

[Clemenza]

John Adams had a chip on his shoulder and was highly resentful of anyone who appeared to be more successful than him. His rather bitter personality meant that he would never enjoy the personal adulation or respect of the other founders. I would have rather spent time with Newark’s own Aaron Burr at his Harlem estate than a minute with John Adams.

[Corin Stormhands]

Doin’ okay. Busier than I should be. And yourself?

My son’s “moment” was very brief. We had to play it back and stop it frame by frame to find him. He was only able to do one day because it required missing school. When Adams meets the group after the first battle (in the woods), my son runs behind Paul Giamati.

But hey, he got $100 for that 5 seconds of “fame.”

[GQuagmire]

So far a good miniseries.Better than the usual mindless stuff on TV these days(Reality shows,etc).Can you imagine if the original framers of this country were dropped into the 21st century what their reactions would be.I look forward to watching the rest.

A disclaimer;I am a descendant of John Adams,or so I’ve been told by one old family members who did the research back in the day.

[wideawake]

Thanks for posting the text of the law.

The article you posted is rather tendentious, however.

[allmendream]

Franklin, although he described himself as a ‘thorough Deist’; was not at all against something being ‘preachy’. He supported many different religious institutions and supported a really great orator who was filling in the pews until it was revealed that his sermons were plagiarized.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Well, the article was written by a librarian (no offense to librarians here), but I think the facts cited are sound.