Here’s a brief history lesson. That old adage that says when we don’t learn from history, we repeat its mistakes has never been more demonstrated than what has happened since 9/11. Against the background of history and the words of Thomas Paine we can examine the words of Thomas Paine as we reflect on present events and the War in Iraq.

Paine wrote passionately, with some degree of controversy, and to that extent was the epitome of the writer/journalist who guards freedom with the pen, in that fashion we’ve all since learned is mightier than the sword. George Washington once said of Paine that without him America might not have had its independence. The freedom to criticize one’s government is an important right. Those who call it un-American have not perhaps read Thomas Paine or other writings of the great men responsible for this country’s freedoms.

Paine’s writings form the basis of America’s finest and most valued teachings. For those who believe that their fellow Americans who criticize aggressive war are treasonous, who want to shut off debate about such subjects or don’t want to read information about which they might disagree, the following from Thomas Paine is offered:

“If there is a sin superior to every other, it is that of willful and offensive war. Most other sins are circumscribed within narrow limits, that is, the power of one man cannot give them a very general extension, and many kinds of sins have only a mental existence from which no infection arises; but he who is the author of a war, lets loose the whole contagion of hell, and opens a vein that bleeds a nation to death.”

          – Thomas Paine, from the American Crisis V.