What if we Received a Letter from Thomas Jefferson?

Dear Citizens of the United States:

Through the spectacles of time long passed, I cast my vision upon today's bustling society, and it is with both admiration and concern that I communicate to you across the centuries. Moved by the spirit of Patriotism and Democracy, I am compelled to impart my thoughts on the pressing issues that currently beset our great nation.

Imagine, should I wander among you today, what words of counsel might I offer? There, under the enduring legacy of the Declaration of Independence and our sacred Constitution, I observe challenges both old and new. From the perils of cancel culture and an alarming assault on free expression, to the unrelenting tempest of governmental overreach; these are testing times indeed.

Chiefly, I am disquieted by the relentless attacks on one of our most fundamental liberties: Freedom of Speech. In my sojourn, we championed the cause of open dialogue as the lifeblood of our nascent republic. Yet now, I witness an insidious onset of 'cancel culture', stifling the resplendent variety of thought and opinion that constitutes the genuine discourse of a free society.

The spirit of toleration—once our pride and principle—is imperiled when voices, beliefs, or even historical facts are shunned through intimidation or the specter of public ostracism. Must a citizen fear to voice an honest opinion lest they fall out of favor with the prevailing mood of the times?

Disagreement and earnest debate are the crucibles in which the policy of a democratic society is formed. They should not become a pretext for character assassination or societal exclusion. We ought to remember, the idea that challenges your convictions is not your adversary; rather, it may be the chisel that refines your own beliefs.

Would I counsel you today, I would advocate for grace amidst disagreement. Seek first to understand, then to be understood. Engage with the ideas that confront you, and if you must dissent, do so with the articulation of respect and reason that becomes a people predicated on Enlightenment ideals.

Additionally, I note the creeping specter of governmental tyranny—an enterprise that perpetually lusts for a greater dominion over freedoms once claimed by individuals. This, I fear, is a path paved towards oblivion for our cherished liberties.

Recall, if you will, the numerous warnings we imparted of a Leviathan state that, under the pretense of providing for the public good, strips the people of their self-sovereignty. Beware, the government that proffers the citizen all manner of provision in exchange for individual liberties steps closer to despotism.

I urge you, as those who have inherited the legacy of our revolutionaries and visionaries, assume the mantle of vigilance. Consider the sacrifice of our Revolution—what they stood for should not merely be enshrined in museums or relegated to the annals of history, but actively defended in courts, in forums of public discussion, and in the sacred voting booth.

Do not yield to the comfortable apathy that stands silent when rights erode. Resistance is your birthright and your burden; to be asseverated with your words and ballots alike. For in your hands rests the enduring flame of Liberty—pass it on undiminished to succeeding generations.

Today, the clarion call for the defenders of Democracy resounds just as it did when our country was but an audacious experiment in self-governance. The revolutionaries of our time must be thinkers, speakers, and activists who stand unwaveringly for their rights and values.

Thus, as the drafter of our sublime Declaration and an ardent advocate for freedom and democracy, I find solace in the belief that the American spirit shall overcome these tempests as it has countless others. Forge ahead with courage, armed with the wisdom of history and an unshakeable belief in the principles upon which this great nation was founded.

And so, with an abiding confidence in your capacities, I profess my eternal faith in you, the citizens of these United States, to preserve, protect, and perpetuate the blessings of Liberty.

With great affection and enduring hope for your future,

Thomas Jefferson