"Many circumstances hath, and will arise, which are not local, but universal, and through which the principles of all Lovers of Mankind are affected"

Happy Birthday Tom

by digby



It's Tom Paine's birthday. And considering what's going on in the world, this seems to be an auspicious day to read this:


The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind. Many circumstances hath, and will arise, which are not local, but universal, and through which the principles of all Lovers of Mankind are affected, and in the Event of which, their Affections are interested. The laying a Country desolate with Fire and Sword, declaring War against the natural rights of all Mankind, and extirpating the Defenders thereof from the Face of the Earth, is the Concern of every Man to whom Nature hath given the Power of feeling; of which Class, regardless of Party Censure, is the AUTHOR.



h/t to @joshua_holland

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