I just finished reading, The Great Little Madison (Unforgetable Americans) by Jean Fritz; great read. I got interested in Madison after listening to a bit of Meet the Press, where they, among other things talked about Madison being so short; five foot 2 inches was the consensus of opinion. After a bit of research I’ve found his height being 5’2” or 5’4” or 5’6”. Folk, (don’t ask me who) I’ve read have stated that there has never been a creative genius over the height of 5’4” (can’t include just regular geniuses like Einstein, you need bigger thinkers.) Give my own height, I’ve always found this a very profound and illuminating piece of information. And, like a good Irishman (who’s really likely a Scot) I firmly believe that facts should never distort the truth of a good story. Ergo, Madison, who, along with the other founding fathers, must have been a short little fella.
I can’t think of any other time in history in western civilization, with the perhaps the exception of ancient Rome and Greece, has there ever been such a collection of highly educated and brilliant minds brought together for a common cause. Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Madison and the like were unbelievably gifted and created this experiment we call American Democracy. And it was even particularly popular. You must remember the majority of the country did not want to leave British citizenry and even after the revolution not all were committed to the building a of Republic, preferring just to hang out as states. And I’ve learned to distain Patrick Henry, who, even after his famous, “Give me liberty or give me death.” Speech, turned out to be a renegade that cause oodles of problems for the fledgling democracy.
The point is that the arguments going on about government in the time of the founding fathers was just as furious and wild and today’s political scene. The difference is, due to folk like James Madison, the little guy with a weak voice and constitution, they learned how to compromise and work together to form the Republic. Oh that today’s politicians had their brainpower, knowledge and ability to resolve differences for the common good.
I am also aware that perhaps only those with financially gifted backgrounds were practically the only ones considered for office in those days. There have always been warnings about the dangers of democracies when majorities truly control. The founding fathers were aware of this as well as the great critique of the American experiment, the Frenchman, Alex do Tocoqueville.
We need to not just get out the vote, we need to educate the voters so as not be swayed by political sound bites that seem to govern modern elections.
I would highly recommend this delightful book by Jean Fritz as a part of that attempt to be educated voters. We need to know our history. Though none of these brilliant individuals could have possibly envisioned what this nation would become and the adaptations to their work that would need to take place. [That is another discussion for the future, strict constructionists of the constitutions versus the evolving interpretation of the constitution.]
Now I’m into reading the Federalist Papers, the background material for their conversations. In this day in age we can study the original documents so easily. My copy of the Federalists Papers, adapted for easy Kindle reading cost me a whopping $0.99.
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