Friday, December 19, 2008

Today In History: Tom Paine.

On this date in 1776, the first volume of Thomas Paine's The American Crisis was published. Kids used to have to memorize chunks of it in school, you know...
These are the times that try men's souls: The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.
@

3 comments:

  1. Jay G7:36 AM, December 19, 2008

    Oops... I'm guilty of referring to "Class III weaponry" from time to time.

    Duly noted, and chastened. Thank'ee Tam...

    ReplyDelete
  2. Tommy Paine IX9:01 AM, December 19, 2008

    Thanks for the reminder!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Ish12:29 PM, December 19, 2008

    In my grandparents' day, students had to memorize chunks of it in school.

    In my parents' day, kids might have been made to read some important paragraphs.

    When I was in school, the openning paragraph, its most famous passage, was used as a typing exercise.

    When my daughter (2.5 years old) is in school, they would probably punish her for quoting it...

    ReplyDelete

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