Founders' Friday...the creators of our Constitution

[Andy A]

At the risk of incurring the ire and derision of all progressives within a million miles, might I encourage all to watch Glen Beck on Fridays.
Whether you're a Democrat, Republican or Independent his Friday program entitled Founders' Friday is informative, and for the most part, unbiased. It is designed to tell us about our founders and how they formed our Republic.
Today, for instance, he had Coleen Sheehan, a political science professor from Villanova University and James D. Best, author, of "Tempest at Dawn" a novel about the formation of our Constitution, as guests. The subject was James Madison, considered by many as the father of our Constitution and his thoughts and actions. It is an excellent portrayal of what our founding fathers had in mind and what they were attempting to do.

 

[jpbhen]

At the risk of incurring the ire and derision of all progressives within a million miles, might I encourage all to watch Glen Beck on Fridays.
Whether you're a Democrat, Republican or Independent his Friday program entitled Founders' Friday is informative, and for the most part, unbiased. It is designed to tell us about our founders and how they formed our Republic.
Today, for instance, he had Coleen Sheehan, a political science professor from Villanova University and James D. Best, author, of "Tempest at Dawn" a novel about the formation of our Constitution, as guests. The subject was James Madison, considered by many as the father of our Constitution and his thoughts and actions. It is an excellent portrayal of what our founding fathers had in mind and what they were attempting to do.

agreed. i understand that a book is coming out with much of this material, as sort of a supplemental american history book. likely to be a good read!

the program repeats tonight at 1am, and several times during the weekend if you can tivo.

 

[scooterbug44]

That sounds like a very interesting and informative show and one I would like to watch.

But................is that when he has the backdrops of the red, white, and blue portraits of Franklin, Washington, etc. Because if it is, I must say what I have seen of that is very far from what you have described and makes me cringe and yell at the TV "have you ever opened a history book?" and immediately change the channel.

He isn't teaching about history and our founding fathers as much as he is using them to push his agenda and a very revisionist and narrow view of history.

 

[Andy A]

That sounds like a very interesting and informative show and one I would like to watch.

But................is that when he has the backdrops of the red, white, and blue portraits of Franklin, Washington, etc. Because if it is, I must say what I have seen of that is very far from what you have described and makes me cringe and yell at the TV "have you ever opened a history book?" and immediately change the channel.

He isn't teaching about history and our founding fathers as much as he is using them to push his agenda and a very revisionist and narrow view of history.

If you'll re-read my opening, you will note I said who his guests were. Both of them scholars who specialize in the works and life of James Madison. I am sorry you dislike Beck to the point you can't see the big picture for looking at the miniscule one but to each his own. Also, you are wrong on whose really promoting revisionist history, IMO, it is not those who believe in the Constitution as it was written.

 

[Bob]

At the risk of incurring the ire and derision of all progressives within a million miles, might I encourage all to watch Glen Beck on Fridays.
Whether you're a Democrat, Republican or Independent his Friday program entitled Founders' Friday is informative, and for the most part, unbiased. It is designed to tell us about our founders and how they formed our Republic.
Today, for instance, he had Coleen Sheehan, a political science professor from Villanova University and James D. Best, author, of "Tempest at Dawn" a novel about the formation of our Constitution, as guests. The subject was James Madison, considered by many as the father of our Constitution and his thoughts and actions. It is an excellent portrayal of what our founding fathers had in mind and what they were attempting to do.

that you would encourage people to watch glenn beck...

 

[scooterbug44]

If you'll re-read my opening, you will note I said who his guests were. Both of them scholars who specialize in the works and life of James Madison. I am sorry you dislike Beck to the point you can't see the big picture for looking at the miniscule one but to each his own. Also, you are wrong on whose really promoting revisionist history, IMO, it is not those who believe in the Constitution as it was written.

What you described sounds like a good show and I think Glenn Beck would be a good narrator who would keep people interested and engaged.

I was asking because I have only seen parts of what I think is the show you are talking about - and what I saw was a far cry from historically accurate.

IMO the best way to see what the founders actually believed/intended is to study the Federalist papers and other documents from the same time period and with the same authors, not by parsing the Constitution through a modern lens with a modern agenda.

 

[LuciferSam]

They say Glenn Beck has ADD, no I think he causes it.

 

[GoodWitch58]

There is nothing in Glenn Beck's background or the history of his performances on television that give me any confidence that he has the credentials to teach history no matter who he invites on the show. All of the information is filtered through his world view.

I'm with Scooterbug, study the Federalist Papers and watch PBS or the History Channel for the authentic history lesson.

If I wanted to use television to learn about NASCAR I would go to ESPN, not the Travel Channel...

However, if watching this caused one to be curious about the writing of the Constitution and beliefs/thoughts of the founders, and led the viewer to a primary source for more objective information, that would be a good thing.

Reminds me of helping students to read ; I always start them wherever they are: if comic books lead them to Faulkner, then bring on the comic books!

 

[Andy A]

What you described sounds like a good show and I think Glenn Beck would be a good narrator who would keep people interested and engaged.

I was asking because I have only seen parts of what I think is the show you are talking about - and what I saw was a far cry from historically accurate.

IMO the best way to see what the founders actually believed/intended is to study the Federalist papers and other documents from the same time period and with the same authors, not by parsing the Constitution through a modern lens with a modern agenda.

For further information, a strong point was made by both guests. That point was that the Federalist papers should be tops on the list of reading material when studying the Constitution. Also recommended were the letters exchanged between Jefferson and Madison.