Discussion Leads to Deeper Insights

Recently, a group of parents and I read Revolutionary Characters: What made the Founders Different, by Gordon S. Wood. The author is a brilliant historian, having won the Pulitzer for History in 1973 for his book, The Radicalism of the American Revolution. He believes and strives to illustrate, in several books, that the American Revolution “ infused into our culture our noblest ideals and highest aspirations, our beliefs in liberty, equality, and the happiness of ordinary people.” Throughout Revolutionary Characters, Wood is very forthcoming about the flaws and foibles of our Founders. But at the same time he continuously asks "What made these men great?" and he brings to light the strength of character in each one - Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Franklin, Hamilton and Paine. As our little reading group poured over each chapter, it became clear that character absolutely did matter - it made the difference. Character, in fact, is what holds the story of these men together, despite how wildly different they all were in so many ways. 

The experience of sharing this book with others was enriching and powerful. We all felt deeply about the content and came ready to share and question and wonder. Socializing what one learns with an enthusiastic group of interesting individuals helps us all to see things from different perspectives and to examine our preconceived notions. The book and the discussion taught me a great deal about these founders, about our country’s history, about how unique and fortunate our country’s beginnings really were. It also was rewarding and exciting to share my newfound knowledge with other engaged individuals.   

One member of our group went home so enthused that he sat down and summarized the whole experience in writing. I want to conclude by sharing a portion of his essay here. “The complexity, and the mystery, of the American story is what gives it Meaning.  This story cannot be fully appreciated without noting that, all ‘the

founders’ were well educated, property owning, white males. Moreover, 41 of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence were slave holders. This is what makes America vulnerable to the severe criticism that eloquent expressions of human liberty were meant only for some. 

But this is also what makes America extraordinary and unique, because from these beginnings sprang an unparalleled push for human liberty. In the long arc of history, America is when human rights took a dramatic turn toward freedom and liberty for everyone. The paradox of America is that a radical new political philosophy was born, in a new nation, with freedom, democracy, individual liberty, and equality as its central values…That is why it is difficult not to stand in a kind of surprised awe that the new political system was conceived at this time. This was a system which embodied such powerful narratives of equality and liberty, that it changed the world.”   

A summary like this to come out of our simple book discussion awes me and pushes me forward to keep reading and offering opportunities to gather and keep on learning from all the parents and teachers with whom I have the privilege of working.