January 01, 2007
"Terrorist" or "Freedom Fighter"?
"He is not Old Brown any longer; he is an angel of light."
-- Henry David Thoreau, on John Brown after his execution
from "A Plea for Captain John Brown"
JOHN BROWN: MARTYR OR MURDERER?
It is almost a cliche to say that one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter. George Washington, for example, was a "terrorist" to the British and Loyalist forces who opposed him during the Revolution, and he was a "freedom fighter" to the Patriots. If the American Revolution had failed, the history books might have recorded him as a "criminal" rather than a "Founding Father." Much depends on the interpretation of the political circumstances surrounding the man, as well as the tactics used.
What about John Brown? In your opinion, is he a "terrorist" or a "freedom fighter" in his actions in "Bloody Kansas" and at Harper's Ferry?
To give it perhaps more relevance, try to put it in contemporary terms. For example, Mr. Geib read this article recently about a man who condones violence in the name of animal rights:
What do you think? Preventing the "murder" of animals by murdering human beings? How about those who kill abortion doctors to prevent the killing of "unborn children"? Those who kill in the name of their religion for supposedly hallowed causes?
This argument is one that often grows heated and turns on sharp angles where foundational beliefs come into play. Please use equal parts philosophy and opinion, with equal parts historical detail from the facts of the situation as they were circa the late 1850s.
In fact, let us take this one step further. In class, Mr. Geib forced you to take sides by having you vote either one way or the other about John Brown; Mr. Geib felt no qualms in doing this, as with people like John Brown you are either with him or against him. John Brown would have no time for the lukewarm who would not take a moral stand, and he (like Dante) would put the cowardly neutral in purgatory where they belong. As it says in the Bible: "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of my mouth." (Revelations 3:15-16) Not a time for "on the one hand," and then "on the other hand" wishy-washy equivocators who travel to the middle of the debate to plant one's flag. The spirit of the times, after all! As Brown explained himself to the Court that decreed execution for him:
".. I believe to have interfered as I have done, . . . in behalf of His despised poor, was not wrong, but right. Now, if it be deemed necessary that I should forfeit my life for the furtherance of the ends of justice, and mingle my blood further with the blood of my children, and with the blood of millions in this slave country whose rights are disregarded by wicked, cruel, and unjust enactments, I submit: so let it be done."
Stirring stuff... many see Brown as a hero. Many don't.
So, in explaining your thinking about John Brown, make sure and respond to this recent development: The RiverPark housing complex in Oxnard has proposed to name its new high school (to be completed in 2009) "John Brown High School." Do you approve of this completely fictitious event? Are you aghast? EXPLAIN!
John Brown - "terrorist" or "freedom fighter"? "John Brown High School" here in Ventura County? What do you think?
Charlestown, Va, 2nd, December, 1859
I John Brown am now quite certain that the crimes of this guilty, land: will never be purged away; but with Blood. I had as I now think: vainly flattered myself that withought very much bloodshed; it might be done.
John Brown's last prophecy, written on day he hanged. Posted by foothilltech at 07:08 PM | Comments (10)