The ProgressingAmerica project needs your help

I have seen and heard plenty of people vent frustration about things such as preaching to the choir or being willing to do more but not knowing what more they can do, or perhaps where to do it.

Well, I want to offer you to help me with what I am trying to accomplish, or rather, ask all of you to help me, offer your time. I wish to see to it that the Debates between our Founding Fathers, in which our great Constitution was forged, are made into an audiobook that people can download freely, listen to, and learn about the blessings of Liberty.

Our Constitution empowers us! Not the people ruling over us. These debates can teach all of us how to better use our own Constitution to protect our sovereign rights as citizens, not serfs.

As you can hear in my phonecall with Kris Anne Hall, there is a demo of the first day of the debates that we created(here), it's only 3 minutes long but it will give you an idea of the goals for the project.

Those of you who are very active in your local tea party groups might seen Kris Anne's presentation on the history of the Constitution, she drives around the country talking about it, and she's about as grass roots as it gets. If you have never heard her do this, you are missing out.

(1) Typists who can help complete the transcript conversion. I will post an example below of how I am not re-interpreting, but merely changing the possessive ownership of the wording.

(2) People willing to lend their voice to a Founder of their choice. Please Keep in mind some of these Founders had a lot to say at the Convention, so if you are busy with a lot of things in your life then you should make considerations accordingly.

(3) Proof-readers. The new transcript must be as close as possible to the Founders original intent, even if it has a slightly negative effect on the audio. We need to get this right.

(4) Proof-listeners. It's easy to make a mistake when recording audio from a script, but a third party proof listener will easily pick up on it and can point out what needs to be fixed and re-recorded.

This is a massive project, I know that. But I know it's something I need to do, and I will find a way to get this done.

The other thing I mentioned in the phone call was the translation of Washington into Spanish, you can find that here:

The primary place I would like to get this work done is on my Freedom Connector(.com) account "Commuting Patriots". A lot of editing work will need to be done and I can edit things in perpetuity there on my account to make sure it's right.

In the end, all completed files will be uploaded to archive.org, YouTube, and other places where anybody easily find or access them.

Here is the original text as written on the first days:

Monday May 14th 1787 was the day fixed for the meeting of the deputies in Convention for revising the federal system of Government. On that day a small number only had assembled. Seven States were not convened till,

Friday 25 of May, when the following members appeared to wit: see Note A. viz, From Massachusetts Rufus King. N. York Robert Yates, Alexr. Hamilton. N. Jersey, David Brearly, William Churchill Houston, William Patterson. Pennsylvania, Robert Morris, Thomas Fitzsimmons, James Wilson, Govurneur Morris. Delaware, George Read, Richard Basset, Jacob Broome. Virginia, George Washington, Edmund Randolph, John Blair, James Madison, George Mason, George Wythe, James Mc.Clurg. N. Carolina, Alexander Martin, William Richardson Davie, Richard Dobbs Spaight, Hugh Williamson. S. Carolina, John Rutlidge, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, Charles Pinckney, Pierce Butler. Georgia, William Few.

Mr. ROBERT MORRIS informed the members assembled that by the instruction & in behalf, of the deputation of Pena. he proposed George Washington Esqr. late Commander in chief for president of the Convention.

Mr. JNo. RUTLIDGE seconded the motion; expressing his confidence that the choice would be unanimous, and observing that the presence of Genl. Washington forbade any observations on the occasion which might otherwise be proper. General WASHINGTON was accordingly unanimously elected by ballot, and conducted to the Chair by Mr. R. Morris and Mr. Rutlidge; from which in a very emphatic manner he thanked the Convention for the honor they had conferred on him, reminded them of the novelty of the scene of business in which he was to act, lamented his want of better qualifications, and claimed the indulgence of the House towards the involuntary errors which his inexperience might occasion. [The nomination came with particular grace from Penna. as Docr. Franklin alone could have been thought of as a competitor. The Docr. was himself to have made the nomination of General Washington, but the state of the weather and of his health confined him to his house.]

Mr. WILSON moved that a Secretary be appointed, and nominated Mr. Temple Franklin.

Col HAMILTON nominated Major Jackson.

On the ballot Majr. Jackson had 5 votes & Mr. Franklin 2 votes. On reading the credentials of the deputies it was noticed that those from Delaware were prohibited from changing the article in the Confederation establishing an equality of votes among the States.

The appointment of a Committee, consisting of Messrs. Wythe, Hamilton & C. Pinckney, on the motion of Mr. C. PINCKNEY, to prepare standing rules & orders was the only remaining step taken on this day.

Here is the new transcript of that one day:

NARRATOR: Monday May 14th 1787 was the day fixed for the meeting of the deputies in Convention, for revising the federal system of Government. On that day a small number only had assembled. Seven States were not convened till,

NARRATOR: Friday, the 25th of May, when the following members appeared to wit: From Massachusetts, Rufus King. From New York, Robert Yates and Alexander Hamilton. From New Jersey, David Brearly, William Churchill Houston, and William Patterson. From Pennsylvania, Robert Morris, Thomas Fitzsimmons, James Wilson and Gouverneur Morris. From Delaware, George Read, Richard Basset, and Jacob Broome. From Virginia, George Washington, Edmund Randolph, John Blair, James Madison, George Mason, George Wythe, and James McClurg. From North Carolina, Alexander Martin, William Richardson Davie, Richard Dobbs Spaight, and Hugh Williamson. From South Carolina, John Rutlidge, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, Charles Pinckney, and Pierce Butler. And From Georgia, William Few.

(Voiceover of Mr. ROBERT MORRIS) I would like to inform the members assembled, that by the instruction & in behalf of the deputation of Pennsylvania, I propose George Washington Esqr., late Commander in chief, for President of the Convention.

(Voiceover of Mr. John RUTLIDGE) I second the motion; and I have confidence that the choice will be unanimous, because the presence of General Washington forbids any observations on the occasion which might otherwise be proper.

NARRATOR: General WASHINGTON was accordingly unanimously elected by ballot, and conducted to the Chair by Mr. Robert Morris and Mr. Rutlidge; from which in a very emphatic manner he thanked the Convention for the honor they had conferred on him, reminded them of the novelty of the scene of business in which he was to act, lamented his want of better qualifications, and claimed the indulgence of the House towards the involuntary errors which his inexperience might occasion. The nomination came with particular grace from Pennsylvania as Doctor Franklin alone could have been thought of as a competitor. The Doctor was himself to have made the nomination of General Washington, but the state of the weather and of his health confined him to his house.

(Voiceover of Mr. James WILSON) I move that a Secretary be appointed, Mr. Temple Franklin.

(Voiceover of Col Alexander HAMILTON) I nominate Major Jackson.

NARRATOR: On the ballot Major Jackson had 5 votes & Mr. Franklin had 2. On reading the credentials of the deputies, it was noticed that those from Delaware were prohibited from changing the article in the Confederation, establishing an equality of votes among the States.

NARRATOR: The appointment of a Committee, consisting of Messrs. Wythe, Hamilton & Charles Pinckney, on the motion of Mr. Charles PINCKNEY, to prepare standing rules & orders was the only remaining step taken on this day.

As you can see, particularly with Rutlidge and Morris, that the only change being made is possessive ownership so that it can be recorded by one individual and come out sounding correct. The original transcript as written, entirely in 3rd person, I believe would be unusable as an audio project. But if you disagree, feel free to start doing it.

I believe that we need to get the Founders into the hands of more people, and this might not be the only way, but it's one that we must pursue. I linked to the demo above, but here again is the link. (link)

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