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The Thomas Jefferson Discussion Group
of Orlando, Florida
Meeting No. 30 - October 22, 2003
Holiday House Restaurant, Orlando, Florida
THIS MONTH'S TOPIC:
AN INDIVIDUAL'S RIGHTS
Thomas Jefferson turned the world upside down and shook it when he
proclaimed the importance of the individual and an individual's rights over
the interests of the state. He had the audacity to suggest that the purpose
of government is to serve, not to be served. Our nation was tested against
this principle over and over in its youth, not the least of which was the so
called X, Y, Z affair. John Adams was President and Thomas Jefferson Vice
President.
A war between England and France was raging. Even though we proclaimed
neutrality, U.S. sailors were being kidnapped from American ships by both
combatants and forced to fight for their respective causes. The recently
passed Jay Treaty showed clear U.S. Government preference to the English.
Jefferson was a Francophile. Not only had the French helped us immeasurably
in our struggle for independence against England, but Jefferson became
enamored of their culture during his stay as Minister to France (and, their
own struggle for individual rights he helped Lafayette write the French
version of a declaration of independence from the power of King Louis XVI)
Adams sent three representatives to negotiate a treaty with France (one of
whom was the soon to be Supreme Court Chief Justice and ironically,
Jefferson¹s second cousin: John Marshall). Our nation was split between
those supporting the English and those supporting the French.
What followed was the X, Y, Z Affair, the Alien & Sedition Acts, the
Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions and what came close to a dissolution of
the United States of America over human rights versus the defense of the
country. Sound familiar? It seems the more things change, the more they
stay the same!
Wednesday night we'll discuss what side of the following issues we think Mr.
Jefferson would come down on:
- The Patriot Act
- The Terry Schiavo euthanasia case (euthanasia defined as: The act or
practice of ending the life of an individual suffering from a terminal
illness or an incurable condition, as by lethal injection or the suspension
of extraordinary medical treatment.)
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