Dear Editor, (not printed in the WTimes as of 10-13-21)
Everett Piper displayed a profound misinterpretation of Dr.
Fauci’s comments in Canada (“Small man’s disease...” Op-ed, Washington Times
10-11-21). If the founding fathers of our
great nation read what Mr. Piper wrote, they would laugh.
Anyone reading the quotes of those wise souls would readily grasp
the vital importance of individuals being “responsible” with their freedoms --
if they intend to keep them. In writing
his book “First Principles” (an in-depth study Washington, Jefferson, Adams,
and Madison’s sources of wisdom) Thomas Ricks’ researched “some 120,000
documents in the U.S. National Archives’ database, Founders Online”. He found
the word “virtue” mentioned about “6000 times”.
More often than the word “freedom”!
In our nation’s revolutionary days the word ‘virtue’ had a different
and very powerful meaning. It was
understood as an “essential element of public life” -- good men ”putting the common good before one’s
own interests.” Ricks quoted the
historian Joyce Appleby who asserted that virtue was the ‘lynchpin’ of public
life – that is, the fastener that held together the structure.”
In this proper context, Mr. Piper lacks a realistic understanding
of what it takes to keep Americans in our freedom-loving nation healthy, alive,
and united. This pandemic has already killed
more Americans than our last Civil war (which took more American lives than all
the wars Americans had fought in since then…combined!) If Mr. Piper continues his irresponsible rhetoric,
his ignorance of biology, history, and reality may be turning this highly
lethal rhetorical war into another bloody civil war.
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