Unlocked for the public after 1 year on Patreon for patrons only:

The "Founding Fathers" -- the most rarefied club in American history -- stand in for everything we love or hate about this country, from its civic and religious freedom to its white supremacism.  As if carved in stone (which they oftentimes are), they loom over every political debate, even though most of us know next to nothing about them, or even who counts as one of the group.  Coined by that immortal wordsmith, President Warren Harding, the phrase "Founding Fathers" serves as an empty vessel for civic emotion, conveniently covering over the actual history of struggle, conflict, and contention that shaped the American republic.



Suggested Further Reading:  Woody Holton, "Forced Founders" and "Unruly Americans and the Origins of the US Consitution";  Gordon Wood, "The Radicalism of the American Revolution";  Gerald Horne, "The Counter-Revolution of 1776";  Charles Beard, "An Economic Interpretation of the United States Constitution";  Joseph Ellis, "Founding Brothers"

Become a patron at any level in order to hear patron-only lectures as soon as they post (https://www.patreon.com/c/u5530632), or alternatively, non-patrons can buy the entire playlist of Myths of the Month, including “The Enlightenment,” “Race,” & “Capitalism,” among others: https://www.patreon.com/collection/2031535?view=condensed

Myth of the Month 16: The Founding Fathers

LIBERTY  
By Janet Wong 
from her book, DECLARATION OF INTERDEPENDENCE
~ Poems for an Poems for an Election Year
 
I pledge acceptance
of the views
so different,
that make us America

To listen, to look,
to think, and to learn

One people
sharing the earth
responsible
for liberty 
and justice
for all.


Janet Wong's Poem, Liberty, which begins, "I pledge acceptance of the views..."

One of the key features of the United States Constitution is the concept of limited, enumerated powers. This is an extremely important concept. When enforced, it protects the people from their government officials crossing the line between protecting their rights and telling them how they must live their lives.

Which is Worse - Too Few or Too Many Laws?

THESE UNITED STATES
- kroPOTkin

new US National anthem
February 4, 2025 at 8:50 a.m.
__________

When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for a people to rise against those who seek to subjugate them, to cast off the yoke of corruption and despotism, and to reclaim the liberties which are their inalienable right, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to such resistance. 

We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all people are created equal, that they are endowed with certain unalienable Rights, among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. 

That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. 

That whenever any person, corporation, or government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to resist, to abolish the chains of their oppression, and to institute a new order, laying its foundation upon justice, equality, and the common good. 

Prudence will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light causes; and experience shows that people suffer abuses while evils are sufferable. 

But when a long train of usurpations reduces them under absolute tyranny, it is their right, their duty, to rise against such oppression. 

The history of Donald J. Trump and Elon Musk is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an oligarchy, the destruction of democracy, and the enrichment of the few at the cost of the many. 

To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world. 

They have conspired to erode the institutions of government, dismantling agencies that serve the common good and replacing them with mechanisms of personal profit and unchecked control. 

They have wielded their influence to silence dissent, to intimidate laborers who seek fair wages, and to strip away the power of the working class. 

They have sought to consolidate wealth and dominion over the people, turning the machinery of the state into an instrument of their own ambition, rather than the servant of the people’s will. 

They have disregarded the rule of law, treating justice as a weapon to be turned against their enemies while shielding themselves from consequence.

They have turned against the world, casting aside alliances, abdicating responsibilities, and making the nation an island of greed and cruelty in a world that once looked to it for leadership.

They have corrupted the channels of information, spreading falsehoods and deceit to cloud the minds of the people and to turn them against one another.

They have fostered division, stoking the fires of hatred and fear, so that neighbor turns upon neighbor while they consolidate their grip upon the nation.

We have petitioned for redress; our voices have been ignored. We have sought change through law and democracy, yet they have bent these systems to their own will. We have borne their transgressions with patience, yet their abuses only grow in number and in magnitude.

Therefore, we, the people of the United States, in solemn assembly and by the authority of our own will, do declare that we shall resist.

We shall not be governed by tyrants, nor be subject to the whims of those who wield power without accountability.

We shall take up the cause of freedom, standing against those who would strip it from us.

We shall meet their oppression not with submission, but with defiance, knowing that liberty is never given, but must always be won.

We do not undertake this lightly.

We do not seek strife, but neither shall we shrink from it when our very existence as a free people is at stake.

We pledge to each other our voices, our hands, and our strength, in pursuit of a nation ruled not by billionaires and demagogues, but by the people, for the people, and with the people.

To this end, we stand united, and we shall not falter.



THESE UNITED STATES

🔥 Uncontainable. Unstoppable. Untamed. 🔥

"Fuego" is the sound of resistance catching fire, a battle cry wrapped in electrified beats and defiant vocals. It’s the anthem for those who refuse to be boxed in, controlled, or molded to fit. A fusion of electro-rock, darkwave, and trip-hop, this track burns with raw energy, pulsing basslines, and a rhythm that refuses to obey.

The lyrics spit rebellion, "I'm not cut from the same cloth", a declaration of independence, a refusal to play by their rules. With echoes of Nine Inch Nails, The Prodigy, and Nicolas Jaar, "Fuego" is not just a song; it’s a statement.

For those who live unapologetically, fight relentlessly, and refuse to dim their fire.

🔥 No more cages. No more scripts. Just flames.
🔊 Turn it up. Burn it all.

Fuego

issa body dump wit weeb prod me

A reading of the document which separated America from King George III's government.

Declaration of Independence

🎸 "I Am Jefferson" - An epic thrash metal and contemporary jazz fusion song telling the story of Thomas Jefferson in his own words!

This aggressive modern metal track features Thomas Jefferson speaking directly to you about writing the Declaration of Independence, becoming the 3rd President of the United States, the Louisiana Purchase, and his philosophical legacy. Packed with authentic Jefferson quotes including "We hold these truths to be self-evident" and "Endowed by their Creator with inalienable rights."

🎵 SONG HIGHLIGHTS:
• First-person narrative from Thomas Jefferson himself
• Real historical quotes from Jefferson throughout
• Thrash metal intensity meets contemporary jazz saxophone solos
• Complex time signatures and polyrhythmic breakdowns
• Aggressive melodic singing (no screaming)
• Technical guitar shredding vs alto saxophone battles
• Palindromic musical structures (ABCBA symmetry)

📜 HISTORICAL THEMES COVERED:
✓ Declaration of Independence (1776)
✓ "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness"
✓ Inalienable rights and self-evident truths
✓ Louisiana Purchase and westward expansion
✓ Jefferson's presidency (1801-1809)
✓ Lewis and Clark expedition
✓ University of Virginia founding
✓ Religious freedom and separation of church and state
✓ Jefferson's death on July 4th, 1826

🎼 GENRE: Modern Thrash Metal / Contemporary Progressive Metal / Jazz Fusion

🎤 VOCAL STYLE: Aggressive melodic singing with clear articulation (no screaming or yelling)

🎸 INSTRUMENTATION: 8-string guitars, double-bass drums, alto saxophone, contemporary jazz piano, technical bass

I am Jefferson

This fourth book in the action-packed Guts & Glory series takes readers through the exciting and fascinating history of the American Revolution!

--------

A fierce group of rebels who will never surrender. An empire's massive army that has never known defeat. And a war that changed the world forever.

From George Washington crossing the Delaware to Molly Pitcher firing her cannon to the Culper Spy Ring stealing information in the dead of night, the people of the American Revolution were some of the bravest and most inspiring of all time. Jump into each epic moment from riots in the streets of Boston to the last stand at Yorktown to the founding fathers signing the Declaration of Independence in this accessible and comprehensive guide to the birth of the United States of America.

History buff and popular blogger Ben Thompson's extensive research and irresistible storytelling make this unforgettable installment in the Guts & Glory series perfect for reluctant readers and history lovers alike!
--------

Available Now from Hachette Audio as a digital download, and in Hardcover and Ebook from Little, Brown Young Readers.

Download:
https://www.downpour.com/guts-glory-the-american-revolution
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GUTS & GLORY: THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION by Ben Thompson Read by W. Collyer - Audiobook Excerpt

Never Stop Sneakin' - Never Stop Sneakin' OST (Hyperduck Soundworks)

Intersectional anarcho-feminist communist.
anti-racist. anti-misogyny. anti-fascist. anti-homophobia. anti-transphobia. anti-ableist. anti-classist. anti-imperialist.
“Under no pretext should arms and ammunition be surrendered; any attempt to disarm the workers must be frustrated, by force if necessary”
― Karl Marx

⚠️ No paid parasites—promotion’s welcome only if it costs me nothing.

Forged in fire and wired for war, Synth Berserker is not just a sound—it’s a declaration.
Blending cinematic power, Viking fury, outlaw grit, and battle-scarred poetry, Synth Berserker smashes through genre walls with the force of a warhammer. From Norse chant to disco heartbreak, pagan country to searing metal, every track is a weapon—each lyric a curse, a blessing, or both.

Born of myth and rebellion, Synth Berserker channels divine wrath, betrayed honor, and untamed emotion into songs that strike deep and leave scars.

Genres: Norse folk, metal, cinematic country, outlaw country, country rock, soft/country rock, rock, Blues Rock, and disco-infused power ballads
Signature sound: crushing drums, soaring melodies, fierce vocals, and an unrelenting spirit

Hunika is a silhouette dancing in the neon shadows, a voice whispering to the rebels. A solo project born from cold rage and burning lucidity, it composes the soundtrack of a world on the edge, oscillating between introspection and subversion.

Its universe, deeply electronic, fuses the dark textures of trip-hop, the hypnosis of downtempo, and the raw impact of electro-rock. One foot in contemplation, the other in protest, Hunika digs beneath the surface, dismantling the illusions of consumer society and the absurdities of politics with surgical precision.

Inspired by literature, art in all its forms, and a reimagined ‘68 mindset, Hunika does not preach—it unveils. Each track is a crack in the façade, an invitation to see differently, to feel differently. It is a sonic journey where aesthetics meet awakening, where mystery embraces rebellion.

Hunika does not create to please. It creates for those who want to listen differently.

franckactisign@hotmail.com

Grammy-winning audiobook publisher. Authors include James Patterson, David Baldacci, and Michael Connelly. Earbuds encouraged. Follow us on Twitter at @HachetteAudio.

Bread Yoda: "Dough or Donut, there is no Rye."

So much of what we learn in a standard history class, and in the culture around us, are just cliff-note narratives, crafted to explain how things appear, rather than how things actually came to be. Peel back the layers of time and place with this thoroughly researched, college-level history podcast with over 200 episodes that uncover the forgotten forces that shaped – and that are still shaping – our world today. 

There are no commercials in this long-form podcast.  More information can be found at Historiansplaining.com, where you can hear Quick Samples of every episode, easily find related episodes based on topic, discover episodes by geographic location on a map of the world or on a timeline of world history, and much more. 

There’s so much to explore with Samuel Biagetti, PhD, in these conversational lectures and interviews, each one presenting hidden landscapes from the past that put the moments and movements of today’s world in a tangible, thought-provoking light.

Press play for the joy of a great college-level course in history, without any of the homework!

Unlock the most content by becoming a supporter through Patreon. You choose the amount you want to contribute, and your support helps keep the podcast commercial free! Visit patreon.com/user?u=5530632  
Support through Patreon from listeners like you is the only source of ongoing funding for this podcast.

Popular tracks tagged #declaration of independence