The Founding Fathers on the Wise Use of Social Media

As most regular Colonial Quills readers will agree, if we don't learn from history, we are doomed to repeat the same mistakes. In fact, we not only agree, we harp about it here on the CQ blog from time to time. In further fact, many of us who write historical fiction have used themes and lessons from history in the lives of our characters to enlighten modern-day readers about the big "bewares" learned in ages past.

All that said, there are certain lessons we've all come to learn, mostly self-taught through hard experience, when it comes to utilizing social media. We may have responded too quickly and sharply to a post or shared "facts" of unproven origin. Even when it comes to these kinds of media faux pas, there are lessons from the past that might help us alleviate the need to learn them through hard knocks. Let's take a look at a few reminders on using social media, straight from the pens of three of our founding fathers:

George Washington, in a letter to his nephew, gives wise advice on the making of friends, and what we share with our friends and when. (You might also wish to review his entire pamphlet on Rules of Civility & Decent Behavior.)

"It is easy to make acquaintances, but very difficult to shake them off, however irksome and unprofitable they are found after we have once committed ourselves to them; the indiscretions and scrapes which they very often they involuntarily lead one into, proves equally distressing and disgraceful. Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence, true friendship is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity before it is entitled to the appellation." ~George Washington

Benjamin Franklin, known in part for his many wise sayings, lays out in his autobiography his standards for the conduct of his newspaper, something those in journalism (and on social media) might take to heart today.

"In the conduct of my newspaper I carefully excluded all libeling and personal abuse, which is of late years become so disgraceful to our country. Whenever I was solicited to insert anything of that kind, and the writers pleaded, as they generally did, the liberty of the press, and that a newspaper was like a stage-coach, in which any one who could pay had a right to place, my answer was that i would print the piece separately if desired, and the author might have as many copies as he pleased to distribute himself, but that I would not take upon me to spread his detraction; and that, having contracted with my subscribers to furnish them with what might be either useful or entertaining, I could not fill their papers with private altercation, in which they had no concern, without doing them manifest injustice. Now, many of our printers make no scruple of gratifying the malice of individuals by false accusations of the fairest characters among ourselves, augmenting animosity even to the producing of duels; and are, moreover, so indiscreet as to print scurrilous reflections on the government of neighboring states, and even on the conduct of our best national allies, which may be attended with the most pernicious consequences. These things I mention as a caution to young printers, and that they may be encouraged not to pollute their presses and disgrace their profession by such infamous practices, but refuse steadily, as they may see by my example that such a course of conduct will not, on the whole, be injurious to their interests." ~Benjamin Franklin

Thomas Jefferson, in a letter to his nephew, charges him with the honorableness to be found in preserving peace through simple politeness, and how doing so can stifle the rude tongue or ungracious behavior of another. 

"I have mentioned good humor as one of the preservatives of our peace and tranquility. It is among the most effectual and it's effect is so well imitated and aided artificially by politeness, that this also becomes an acquisition of the first rate value. In truth, politeness is artificial good humor, it covers the natural want of it, and ends by rendering habitual a substitute nearly equivalent to the real virtue. It is the practice of sacrificing to those whom we meet in society all the little conveniences and preferences which will gratify them, and deprives us of nothing worth a moment's consideration.; it is the giving a pleasing ad flattering turn to our expressions which will conciliate others, and make them pleased with us as well as themselves. How cheap a price for the good will of another! When this is in return for a rude thing said by another, it brings him to his senses, it mortifies and corrects him in the most salutary way, and places him at the feet of your good nature in the eyes of the company." ~Thomas Jefferson 

Final Thoughts

I fear that, as our modern culture hurtles headlong toward more and more godlessness, we will see ever fewer of these virtues practiced, especially in the media, both social and otherwise, where vitriol is rampant. But, for those of us who take the time to absorb the lessons and wisdom of the past, practicing of them may at least provide us our own peace of mind. And as a final note, we can remember the even higher wisdom and instruction of Scripture which, as we pray, may also guide our thoughts and intent when we use social media:

"First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." ~ 1 Timothy 2:1-4

See you in the funny pages and on all the bookish sites~

Naomi Musch

https://naomimusch.com/

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Let Us Not Be Rogues or Fools - A Circumspect Anniversary Look at Thomas Paine's "The American Crisis"

Just as we remember Benjamin Franklin in part for his many wise sayings, the words of Thomas Paine, considered the Father of the Revolution, have also become timeless. Looking ahead toward a new decade, we would do well to look back on December 23^rd, 1776, which marks the 243^rd anniversary of the first in Mr. Paine’s series of published pamphlets entitled The American Crisis or simply The Crisis.

In our current political climate, it seems a good time to revisit this insightful essay of Mr. Paine’s that is at times convicting, sharp, and humbling. In reading Mr. Paine’s essay, I cannot help but feel its relevance for the present..

Ponder a few of these highlights from The Crisis:  

"These are the times that try men's souls." (Talk about an opening line! I feel this often. Don't you?)

"What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly." (I wonder if this isn't more true now than it was 243 years ago.)

"All that Howe has been doing for this month past, is rather a ravage than a conquest." (Ouch! He must have learned insults from Shakespeare.)

"I have as little superstition in me as any man living, but my secret opinion has ever been, and still is, that God Almighty will not give up a people to military destruction, or leave them unsupportedly to perish, who have so earnestly and so repeatedly sought to avoid the calamities of war, by every decent method which wisdom could invent. Neither have I so much of the infidel in me, as to suppose that He has relinquished the government of the world, and given us up to the care of devils; and as I do not, I cannot see on what grounds the king of Britain can look up to heaven for help against us: a common murderer, a highwayman, or a house-breaker, has as good a pretense as he." (I appreciate Mr. Paine's confidence in the Divine.)

"Tis surprising to see how rapidly a panic will sometimes run through a country. All nations and ages have been subject to them. ... Yet panic, in some cases, have their uses; they produce as much good as hurt. Their duration is always short; the mind soon grows through them, and acquires a firmer habit than before. But their peculiar advantage is, that they are the touchstones of sincerity and hypocrisy, and bring things and men to light, which might otherwise have lain forever undiscovered. ... They sift out the hidden thoughts of man, and hold them up in public to the world. (Such eye-opening truth! Panic does achieve those things, and is one way in which "every secret thing will be revealed".)

"If we believe the power of hell to be limited, we must likewise believe that their agents are under some providential control." (A wonderful reminder of God's over-arching power and will.) 

"The period is now arrived, in which either they or we must change our sentiments, or one or both must fall." (I have to remind myself that Mr. Paine is speaking of the stark division between Tories and Patriots, and yet...)

"Let it be told to the future world, that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive, that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet and to repulse it." (Let the thwarting of evil ever be our nation’s unifying cause.)

"My own line of reasoning is to myself as straight and clear as a ray of light. Not all the treasures of the world, so far as I believe, could have induced me to support an offensive war, for I think it murder; but if a thief breaks into my house, burns and destroys my property, and kills or threatens to kill me, or those that are in it, and to "bind me in all cases whatsoever" to his absolute will, am I to suffer it?" (An argument that still stands.)

"Howe's first object is, partly by threats and partly by promises, to terrify or seduce the people to deliver up their arms and receive mercy. The ministry recommended the same plan to Gage, and this is what the Tories call making their peace, "a peace which passeth all understanding" indeed! A peace which would be the immediate forerunner of a worse ruin than any we have yet thought of. Ye men of Pennsylvania, do reason upon these things! Were the back counties to give up their arms, they would fall an easy prey to the Indians, who are all armed: this perhaps is what some Tories would not be sorry for. Were the home counties to deliver up their arms, they would be exposed to the resentment of the back counties who would then have it in their power to chastise their defection at pleasure. And were any one state to give up its arms, that state must be garrisoned by all Howe's army of Britons and Hessians to preserve it from the anger of the rest. Mutual fear is the principal link in the chain of mutual love, and woe be to that state that breaks the compact. Howe is mercifully inviting you to barbarous destruction, and men must be either rogues or fools that will not see it. I dwell not upon the vapors of imagination; I bring reason to your ears, and, in language as plain as A, B, C, hold up truth to your eyes." (And thus, the groundwork for our 2^nd Amendment rights was laid. What has changed? For we must still hold fast to those rights for which men laid down their lives.)

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In conclusion, I think it circumspect to look back upon these documents written during our country's birth pangs. We have experienced many growing pains in the 243 years since, and continue to feel the agonies of a nation struggling to survive as it was formed. As we close out the year and prepare to step into a new decade, let us not forget the things we've learned, the wisdom that prevailed so long ago.

Merry Christmas, and may you be filled with God's peace as you walk with Him.

Naomi Musch

https://naomimusch.com/

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