The Father of the Constitution: James Madison

I found a space in my calendar early in the week, so I mounted my Harley, and rode off to the Blue Ridge Mountains. I have ridden for over twenty years now, and taken two trips across the United States, so a few day's  ride up into Virginia is a real treat.

Leaving about noon on  Saturday, I followed 501 all the way to Lynchburg, and then switched to US29 on my way to the mountains. One of my favorite roads off 29 to get to the Parkway is US 60, so I traveled to Amherst, and then up route 60 to the Parkway. It didn't turn out to be a pleasant ride because it was about 52 degrees all the way, and I could feel I was getting a bit hypothermic.  I'd show you some pictures, but it I was in the clouds, and they would be all white.  The fog made it a bit nerve racking, as at times I felt I could see only 30 feet in front of me. I got off the Parkway around Staunton, and the warm bath and a couple of beers took the chill off satisfactorily.

The next day, my real adventure began, because I decided to make it a history trip,  and head for Mount Vernon (General Washington's home). I had never been there, and I decided this was the time to do it. US 29 to Interstate 66, put me in the area of Washington, D.C, and then around 495 (the Washington beltway), 95 south, and I was there. That's his home on the left. (Great photo isn't it?)

The tour was not very informative, but I enjoyed seeing the home and the surroundings. He purchased this home with 2000+ acres, and when he died, he owned about 8000+ acres. Some businessman huh? I took a photo of his grave also so you can see it. All in all, I'm glad I took the time to see this historic place. I suggest you take the time to read 1776, the book, it gives a good picture of what Washington did during the revolution. What a Great Patriot!

I then went on to Dunfires, Va, to spend the night, and after a good nights rest, I decided, as long as I was in the area, to go on to James Madison's home in Montpelier, Va., and am I glad I did. Traveling there answered one of my lifelong questions about the creation of our government: How was it done, and who did it? The answer is James Madison.

After graduation from "the College of New Jersey" (now Princeton) around 1771, he stayed to take further courses. He then returned to his home (seen in the nearby picture to the left) , and began to study the history of governments sometime around the middle of the 1780s. His close friend, Thomas Jefferson (some friend, don't you think?), sent him numerous books, and he studied every recorded attempt at self government by "the people" rather than by a monarch. He brought his ideas to the Constitutional Convention held in Philadelphia in May 1787. His idea was known as the "Virginia Plan" and it became a significant part of our newly formed government, replacing the Articles of Confederation. It was Madison's intellect, and review of history, that formed the basis for the framework of our government.

One satisfying discovery I made while at his home, is that Madison named his horse "Liberty," and I now feel a kinship with his ideas because Liberty is the "name" of my motorcycle. (I have never been able to get the plate "liberty" as someone else has it. I didn't want you to think I couldn't spell it correctly.)

Another pleasant surprise on this trip was meeting "Sparky." He was a three year old Dalmatian that I "met" at Waugh's Enterprises, a gigantic Harley Davidson dealership in Orange, Va.. Sparky was full of energy, friendship, and curiosity, and added a tempo to a pleasant day of riding my "liberte." All in all it was an adventure-full of new ideas and feelings about our great national history. James Madison was a genius, and he gave us all the gift of Liberty. We need to work to preserve it. It's not free. 

Obama, In Egypt We Must Pick a Side

On this morning's Today show, Richard Engel informed viewers that the protesters were not certain whose side the United States was on: Mubarak's or theirs. One thing, however, is clear, on one knows. Both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama keep sending out increasingly  clearer signals that Mr. Mubarak must begin to listen to the demonstrators, but they have not said that the demands of the demonstrators must be met.

We all understand that our foreign relations are precarious in the Middle East. The dilemma portrayed throughout  the media is do we favor stability over oppression of a people? We do have some allies there,  and immediate abandonment of them during a crisis carries risk of losing our credibility with previous agreements and allies not only in the Middle East, but in the Far East, and maybe even in Europe. What should we base our decisions on, and how will those decisions effect our foreign relations in the future? Can the United States be depended upon when the chips are down?

At the risk of violating the fundamental principle that "prediction is very difficult, especially when it involves the future," I will take a stab at it.

Our Government always comes out best, if it tells the truth. Lying only forces the United States  to change future stories to meet the demands of previous lies. That undercuts our credibility, and interferes with relationships. But what truth does America have to "tell about?" Well for one, we believe in the IDEAS contained in the Declaration of Independence and The Constitution: freedom of religion, speech and the press( I'm not going to mention the Right to bear arms). We believe that we all have the right to Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. From this perspective, it's pretty clear. That is our Truth.

Historically, we have a difficult time living up to our Truth. The three-fifths compromise in our Constitution is probably our best example, but we did fight a war in 1860 to solve that one, and it seems to be turning out reasonably well. Women voting took quite a long time, but that one was finally settled also. We seem to be on the right track, but there is still room for improvement. We are working on it, and that's the point. Egypt has a long way to go, but they need to begin to work on it. We need to help them begin.

The demonstrations in the streets are a clear signal that the people are ready to change course. They have had enough of oppression, and control. Specific moves are necessary to let them know that things are changing based on their demands. That's just it: BASED ON THEIR DEMANDS!

America is supposed to believe in the rights of the people to abolish a government when it abuses them, and this has occurred in Egypt for the past 30 years. America must recognize that truth, and push Egypt aggressively towards  goals of our TRUTH: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The further we deviate from these ideas the less they believe us, and belief in our Nation will carry the day.

The protesters need to hear the equivalent of "Mister Gorbechev, tear down this wall," and it hasn't come from any leaders here as of yet. Foreign countries know what we stand for. It is written clearly in our founding documents. America is an idea. We are not one people, we are many, and we are here because of ideas which are rapidly spreading throughout the Middle East and the rest of the world. The future will be OK if we stick to those simple but sacred ideas.

Admit it Mr. Obama, those are the ideas we see inspiring "six figures" of people standing up to rocks, guns, clubs, horses, camels, and threat of death. These are the same ideas that helped our incipient nation through Valley Forge and, God bless us, the Civil War. It's easy to see and to tell the truth. Mubarak must organize things so he can leave, and leave now. He is not the only person to "lead" Egypt.

Finally, I think our leaders will feel better about themselves if they can tell one story. Is it the people, or the government that should be in charge? The last election in our country answered that question here. The Egyptian people are asking for that power, and the United States should help them find it. Tell them the TRUTH, our truths.