Pro Independence

Me, I'm pro independence. America should not attempt to reconcile with Britain, and instead should fight the good fight to be free and independent.

OK, so I'm a little late to the party on this one.

But I just listened to Thomas Paine's Common Sense, and he's pretty much sold me on this independence idea.

I got a bit historical on my last trip to the library and rented Common Sense, the pamphlet put out by Thomas Paine to motivate people to break ties with England.

I guess it worked.

The book I rented wasn't about Tom, or a commentary on his work, but the real deal. Just some guy reading the text of his work.

I was surprised how easy it was to follow and was only tripped up by a few expressions - all of which could be determined through context.

I'd recommend to anyone who wants to write in a persuasive manner that they give this book a listen.

A while back I heard Thomas Paine and others who published similar pamphlets compared to the bloggers of today. The analogy probably isn't far off. He had a strong point of view and wanted to be heard by a large audience. Most of all, he depended on the weight of his words and not his reputation (Common Sense was published anonymously) to get his message across.

I give Common Sense a 7/10 for being both educational and inspiring. Give it a listen, and down with the King!

--Ben