George Allen on Plymouth Plantation
By: mjp
Published On: 4/8/2007 7:45:21 PM
In today's post, there is a very interesting on Jamestown fighting for its colonial "respect," as it is considered sloppy-seconds to Plymouth Plantation.
Former Virginia governor and senator George Allen said in a recent interview that it used to bother him that so many people gave all the credit for the nation's founding to Plymouth.
"The foundational principles of our country came from Virginia," Allen said, citing its contributions to self-government and religious freedom. Whenever he helped lure companies to Virginia, he gave them copies of the original Virginia Co. stock certificates to remind them of Jamestown's importance to free enterprise.
Who'd have guessed a man who stuffed confederate flags in the mailboxes of African Americans. Of course, I guess this does represent one of Jamestown's founding principles - Slavery (admission - Plymouth had slaves too).
I suppose his wheeling and dealing with businesses also embodies Jamestown's get-rich-quick roots -- which is why a good portion of the settlement died after they realized they might actually have to work to make it.
Other than that, I can't think of any way that George Allen embodies "the foundational principles of our country..." which came from Virginia.
Seriously, does George Allen want me to believe that he has thought long and hard about Jamestown's second-class status?
Comments
don't dismiss too quickly (presidentialman - 4/11/2007 2:42:21 AM)
I actually read a lte to the WP on this, from Allen. I think this is a case where you got to give the devil his due.
I don't think George Allen embodies Jamestown spirit, but I do think that everyone knows about the Mayflower. That's the first thanksgiving, plymouth rock there's even the joke that April Showers bring may flowers but what do mayflowers bring? Jamestown,with the exception of John Smith and Pochahantus,doesn't have the celebrity status as that. I'll admit that I love history, know lots of eras, know American History but I never got what was so great about Jamestown. Now that I've vested time in helping with the fesitivities, I think John Smith is more important than people realize. He explored lots of areas around Virginia and Maryland. Then there are the Virginia Indians that are recognized by Virginia. I'd even venture to say, slavery may be a bad legacy and tobbacco is even worse but I think its the other side of the explore America coin. Pilgrims are religious exiles and this is a religous country, Jamestown settlers are merchants and our country is based around the marketplace. I think people,like yourself dismiss that with cute comments like "get-rich-quick". And since we're no longer a slave country and abhore the practise, the economic argument gets lost when talking about slaves.