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Thomas Paine, Traitor or Hero?

2009-06-08, 10:53 AM #1

Mirthy

Registered User

Posts: 218

I was clicking through the BBC when I came across an article about Thomas Paine. Most of us Americans know him as the author of "Common Sense", while apparently the British barely or don't know him at all.

Heres the link to the story, and my question is whether or not you think Paine is a good guy or a baddy...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/8089115.stm

Mirthy

King James the 1st- “I will not give a turd for thy preaching”

2009-06-08, 11:48 AM #2

Detty

Britlandish

Posts: 5,649

I'm not sure how he could be considered a baddy...

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2009-06-08, 1:17 PM #3

sugarless

Sweet 'n' Low

Posts: 3,467

I love how the British called him a Brit though.

comments = hilarious

Fincham: Where are you going?
Me: I have no idea
Fincham: I meant where are you sitting. This wasn't an existential question.

2009-06-08, 2:05 PM #4

Obi_Kwiet

It's Stuart, Martha Stuart

Posts: 7,943

America was founded when it became clear that England was not big enough to hold all of our greatness.

2009-06-08, 2:15 PM #5

Baconfish

ALL GLORY TO THE CONTEST WINNER

Posts: 18,004

Originally posted by Detty:

I'm not sure how he could be considered a baddy...

Indeed. Can't say I've ever heard of him before either.

Also all of those comment people are SILLY.

nope.

2009-06-08, 2:44 PM #6

BobTheMasher

Of what, we don't want to know.y

Posts: 4,243

The "british-born" father of the American Revolution...haha. Duh!

Warhead[97]

2009-06-08, 2:47 PM #7

Recusant

Prefered by 80% of Doctors

Posts: 1,480

I heard about him a few years ago in the God Delusion about his attacks on Christianity. Sounded like an all-round awesome dude and I wish we'd had a little more common sense back then

2009-06-08, 4:44 PM #8

Mentat

Human Computer

Posts: 2,844

I've read "Common Sense" & "Rights Of Man". They're both quite good & must have been even greater in their day. I have yet to read "The Age Of Reason" but I'd love to once I get the chance.

? :)

2009-06-08, 5:59 PM #9

Mort-Hog

If moral relativism is wrong, I don't wanna be right.

Posts: 4,192

Originally posted by Recusant:

I heard about him a few years ago in the God Delusion about his attacks on Christianity. Sounded like an all-round awesome dude and I wish we'd had a little more common sense back then

Yeah, he was an awesome dude, until he wrote that silly little pamphlet and stirred the colonies into such a little frenzy. I bet he's regretting that now. We'll get you back, America, you'll see!

"The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt. " - Bertrand Russell
The Triumph of Stupidity in Mortals and Others 1931-1935

2009-06-08, 9:15 PM #10

dalf

Everyone's favorite alcoholic administrator!

Posts: 8,683

Originally posted by Mort-Hog:

Yeah, he was an awesome dude, until he wrote that silly little pamphlet and stirred the colonies into such a little frenzy. I bet he's regretting that now. We'll get you back, America, you'll see!

OH YEAH?!

Edit:

Quote:

An attack on organised religion and a defence of "free and rational inquiry", the work saw him subtly edged out of founding father status in the US. When he died on 8 June 1809 in Greenwich Village, New York, there were only six mourners at his funeral.

Christianity is a hard beast to topple, Thomas.

Code to the left of him, code to the right of him, code in front of him compil'd and thundered. Programm'd at with shot and $SHELL. Boldly he typed and well. Into the jaws of C. Into the mouth of PERL. Debug'd the 0x258.

2009-06-09, 9:33 AM #11

Darth_Alran

About to lose his freedom

Posts: 3,771

i would say both? probably depends where youre from and how you view the american revolution.

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2009-06-09, 5:06 PM #12

Michael MacFarlane

Unwitting troll accomplice

Posts: 8,272

Originally posted by Obi_Kwiet:

America was founded when it became clear that England was not big enough to hold all of our greatness.

Yeah, but what I don't get is why England didn't keep any of the greatness for itself.

If you think the waiters are rude, you should see the manager.

2009-06-09, 5:20 PM #13

Petmc.

wi.us

Posts: 2,217

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What's the matter with Thomas Paine? Too DEEP for you?

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