Morning Thoughts: April 5, 2018

Ahh. Ever remember hearing something and trying to verify it later? Just did. You know what a fool I am for verisimilitude, when it suits me.

This one involved something I heard on an NPR segment years ago while driving. It spoke to the percentage of colonists who actually took part in the so-called “American Revolution.” Point was that the percentage taking an active part was smaller than one might be led to believe. I remembered it was 20 percent or so but had been able to find a source to cite. Well, I found one.

Reading A People's History of the United States  by Howard Zinn late last evening, I ran across this passage quoting John Shy, (author of A People Numerous and Strong) and John Adams (second president of the U.S., but hell, you ought to know that).

“Shy estimates that perhaps a fifth of the population was actively treasonous. John Adams had estimated a third opposed, a third in support, a third neutral.”

At the time, I applied this to the gains made in civil rights in the 1960s. The efforts then, of a few, were bolstered by a significant segment offering tacit support, that segment being appalled by the likes of George Wallace, Ross Barnett, and others. The sight of Bull Conner turning dogs and fire hoses on children certainly grew support throughout the nation for the rights of minorities. Good Americans felt disgusted at the tactic of using violence and venom against children as a political tool, particularly when those children were only seeking basic human rights.

In short, the forces of good gained support with each evening broadcast of television news.

Here we had, though, in the 1700s, perhaps 20 to 33 percent of active participants, backed by another 33 percent of the population as non-participants, defeating perhaps the most powerful army in the world.

That is why it troubles me so to see people who, in my opinion, are on the right side of history acting in ways that offend and diminish that vital segment of the center. Blocked freeways, riots, blind allegiance to third-party candidates, self-denigration, single-issue voting, and harsh vitriol do not build support among the non-participants.

Just an opinion troubling my thoughts this morning.

Scenes like this build support
in the struggle against injustice.