When I read that the Texas Board of Education had cut Thomas Jefferson out of the history books, I was stunned.
Jefferson penned the Declaration of Independence. He was most eloquent when writing, and along with the others, his clarity of purpose, foresight, and dedication to our nation helped create one of the most important documents ever written. This document declared the colonists split from England. It was the beginning of the Revolutionary War, as well as the birthing pains of our country.
Jefferson was the nation's first secretary of state (1789-94); second vice president (1797-1801); and, as the third president (1801-09), the statesman responsible for the Louisiana Purchase.When asked who I would like, living or dead, to have dinner with, Thomas Jefferson is invariably the name that pops into my mind first. He wasn't a perfect man, but I've never met one of those. His interests were many and varied. Aside from politics and his work as a statesman, Jefferson was very knowledgeable about many topics including horticulture, architecture, art, and culture.
It is inconceivable to me that a man of such importance to our country could be cut from the history books. Jefferson died on July 4th, the same day that John Adams died. His tombstone reads simply:
"Here was buried Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of American Independence of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, and father of the University Of Virgina."
