The Tree of Liberty

I just received the following from a good friend:

Thomas Jefferson wrote a letter while he was in France in 1787 and in that letter he wrote:

"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants."

This line has become a favorite of the “Tea Bagers.” It is a great line but it’s use has nothing to do with the debate over health care for our citizens, and it’s use shows the ignorance of both what patriotism really means (healthy debate on issues) and what real tyranny is not (we are pushing our representatives to represent us). Duh!!

Read on in Jefferson's letter for what seems to be a picture of how Jefferson would have viewed the Tea Baggers who are spouting off about “The tree of liberty”:

"The people cannot be all and always well informed. The part which is wrong will be discontented in proportion to the facts they misconceive."

Thanks Ed for the insight.