On the "Wokeness" of the Founding Fathers

The founding fathers were problematic at best. At our most gracious, we can say they were men of their time. But while they would be considered beyond conservative in the present time, they would have had Woke and radical ideas at the time.

Thomas Jefferson believed in states' rights and did not want a strong central government. He supported the French Revolution despite the bloodshed. He viewed his ideas as progressive, "woke," if you will, because he felt that the country needed to be unlike that of any in the world--even the classical democracies.

Alexander Hamilton and to a great extent, George Washington believed in the Federalist ideals of a strong central and national government. How woke is the idea of the Coast Guard or the Postal Service during that time?

How is wokeness such a bad word? People are just as flawed as in the past, but progressive ideas try to bridge into new territories and change. DEI means that people that historically are not given a chance to even try for a job or a position are able to compete. Usually, they have to work 200% more just to be considered "equal" to a non-DEI counterpart. If that is "wokeness" than let us all be woke. I challenge that every DEI hire is better and more qualified than the person who challenges them and declares that they are not.

Our founding fathers were considered progressive. Now, we know them to flawed. But we can learn from their example. We can dream bigger. Believe in ideals bigger than ourselves. We don't have to box ourselves in. The United States of America needs to be woke to survive as a democracy.