Happy 300th Birthday Benjamin Franklin

Guinnessy writes "Benjamin Franklin was born on 17 January 1706 in Boston, Massachusetts. Franklin was a man of diverse talents: publisher, inventor, ambassador, politician, wit with some human frailities says NPR. In Physics Today, Philip Krider presents Franklin's work on electricity and the development of the lightning rod, work whose fame helped Franklin obtain aid from the French against the British. In the same magazine, Joost Mertens considers Franklin's explorations of the calming effects of oil on water. Those investigations, it turns out, had a less than calming effect on Dutch scholars. Philadelphia is planning a series of events celebratng Franklin's life throughtout the year."

Benjamin Franklin, the truest of American Heroes

[Jim in Buffalo]

Without Benjamin Franklin's entreaties to the French for aid in the American Revolutionary War, the Continental Army would certainly have suffered defeat at the hands of the British. For a man to tirelessly crusade for his country like Franklin did at his age and in a time when travel was no simple matter is astounding. Anyone with a quarter of that man's patriotism, devotion, and tenacity could move mountains.

Best Quote

[Anonymous Coward]

Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Benjamin_Franklin [wikiquote.org]

Re:Benjamin Franklin, the truest of American Heroe

[gEvil (beta)]

Anyone with a quarter of that man's patriotism, devotion, and tenacity could move mountains.

And the thought that in modern times he'd be locked up under the PATRIOT act is truly sad...

Such a great guy!

[mrchaotica]

A scientist, an advocate of separation of church and state, an opponent of "intellectual property" (he never patented any of his inventions), and a true patriot to boot!

(I still can't believe he didn't win that "greatest American" contest the History Channel ran a while back...)

Re:Benjamin Franklin, the truest of American Heroe

[meringuoid]

And the thought that in modern times he'd be locked up under the PATRIOT act is truly sad...

Flamebait? No. It's the truth.

He first agitated for, and then actively participated in, the armed overthrow of the government, using an army of unlawful combatants backed by a rouge state.

Franklin, along with all the great founders of the United States of America, was undoubtedly guilty of high treason. Of course, as Shakespeare observed, if it prospers none dare call it treason; so Franklin's a hero. Certainly had things gone a little differently there would today be celebrations in the honour of the brave patriot Benedict Arnold.

Coffin size?

[mobby_6kl]

Happy birthday, but... I just hope the coffin is large enough to let him comfortably spin in it, as I'm sure that's what he does if he has any idea of what's going on in the US government now.

Re:Benjamin Franklin, the truest of American Heroe

[mrchaotica]

Not to mention that he'd be diametrically opposed to everything the current Administration stands for. Between the PATRIOT Act ("those who would give up essential liberty..."), "Faith-based initiatives" and the Kansas school board, and the media industry's stranglehold on copyright and patent law, he must be spinning in his grave!

Re:It's not really his 300th birthday

[polaughlin]

Yeah, but there are localized versions of Google. If they're outside of the United States they should be using their localized version (ie. google.co.uk, google.jp, etc.) which shouldn't show logos that commemorate US events/holidays.

Re:Interesting quote.

[Anonymous Coward]

When a woman asked Franklin, "What king of government have you given us", after the Constitutional convention, he replied, "A Republic if you can keep it"

Re:Benjamin Franklin, the truest of American Heroe

[east coast]

Flamebait? No. It's the truth.

He first agitated for, and then actively participated in, the armed overthrow of the government, using an army of unlawful combatants backed by a rouge state.

Oh, you mean that treason is part of the Patriot act and not the constitution?

Let's not be foolish about this. Stop trying to pin this on the Patriot act, it's one of the oldest laws on the books. As for speaking out against the government, it happens everyday. I don't see people being locked away for it.

What is sad here is that I'll probably get labled as troll when the truth is Franklin would agree with me even if he supported a current day revolution. Instead the parent post got modded as insightful for simply invoking the name of an unpopular law instead of being based on fact.

Re:Benjamin Franklin, the truest of American Heroe

[eclectic4]

"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - Ben

My favorite quote of his, and quite fitting.

Re:Benjamin Franklin, the truest of American Heroe

[scheming daemons]

While the Senate and House have not been officially dissolved, they have been rendered moot for all intents and purposes over the past 5 years.

Same difference.

Re:Benjamin Franklin, the truest of American Heroe

[2short]

Well, admitedly, people flying hijacked airplanes into buildings is less of a threat to your security than the ones Franklin faced (An army under the control of the current government looking to hang you personally); and I'd argue the threats to his freedom, pre-revolt, were lesser than the threats to ours today. So I'd agree we need a different world view; the Franklin quote is much, much, more relevant today than it was in his time.

The wiretapping certainly isn't about listening to Bin Laden's telephone calls. The wiretapping is about listening to the telephone calls of American citizens when you are not willing to even try to get a warrant, not even from a secret court that can issue warrants retro-actively, and has refused to issue them a couple times out of the hundreds they've been asked. Do you think a warrant could have been obtained for calls to the Axis leaders? Somehow I think so. The administration clearly does not think they can convince a notably sympathetic Judge (who they picked) that this wiretapping is justifiabale, even if they show him the facts. Instead, the whole country should just take their word for it. That has got to be the most obvious horse-shit I've ever heard.
  By claiming he has the authority top order this wiretapping, the President is claiming that he has the authority to do anything he wants, without telling anyone, even if both Congress and the courts specifically say otherwise. What does this claim amount to other than saying "I am King."?
    Yes, I think Franklin would have objected; I think he would have revolted.

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Re:Benjamin Franklin, the truest of American Heroe

[rob_squared]

Patriotism is a devotion towards one's country, and a country is made of citizens.

Remember this one thing as long as you can: you have a duty to your fellow man, not to your government. If government is hurting you, you owe them treason.