There will be winners and losers
Thomas Jefferson never considered a difference of opinion in politics as cause for withdrawing from a friend.
The election is over for me. I’ve done my part by voting yesterday afternoon—I hope this means I stop receiving spammy texts from political action committees!
There will be winners and losers at the ballot box, but that doesn’t mean there needs to be losses of friendships over the results.
“I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend.”
—Thomas Jefferson
The Surrender of Lord Cornwallis: A Turning Point in American History
Today marks the 243rd anniversary of the surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown. The October 19, 1781, surrender by the British, stands as one of the most iconic events in American history, marking a decisive victory for the American revolutionaries and their French allies in the War of Independence.
The year 1781 found the American colonies embroiled in a fierce struggle against British control. After years of warfare, the strategic situation had led to a critical juncture in Virginia. Lord Cornwallis, having marched his army into Yorktown, found himself cornered by a combined force of American and French troops, commanded by General George Washington and General Rochambeau, respectively, with critical naval support from French Admiral de Grasse.
The siege began in late September, with French and American forces encircling Yorktown, cutting off Cornwallis from supplies and reinforcements. The siege was marked by the relentless bombardment of British positions, the most significant being the assault on two key forts, which were fiercely contested but ultimately fell to the allies. These actions were not just military feats but also symbolic of the determination of those fighting for American independence.
On October 17, 1781, after finding his position untenable, Cornwallis sought terms of capitulation. Two days later, the formal surrender took place. In what might be seen as a final act of defiance or perhaps humility, Cornwallis did not participate in the ceremony, sending General Charles O'Hara in his stead. The British forces, in a poignant moment, reportedly played "The World Turned Upside Down" as they marched out to surrender, a tune reflecting the unexpected turn of events.
The Yorktown surrender was not the end of the Revolutionary War, but it effectively ceased major hostilities in North America. News of the surrender shocked Britain and galvanized support for peace negotiations, eventually leading to the Treaty of Paris in 1783, which formally recognized American independence.
The victory at Yorktown became a cornerstone of American national identity, symbolizing not just military success but the triumph of a revolutionary spirit over a formidable empire. It reinforced the narrative of the underdog, of a nation born out of resilience and unity, themes that continue to resonate in American culture.
U.S. Constitution
A rare 237-year-old privately held copy of the US Constitution sold for $9M at auction yesterday. The artifact is one of 100 official copies printed in 1787 and is among eight copies known to exist today that were sent to state leaders for review before being formally adopted. Seven of the eight copies are held by public institutions. See photos here.
The sold Constitution was discovered in 2022 inside a metal filing cabinet in a neglected room of a property in Edenton, North Carolina, once owned by the state's first governor, Samuel Johnston. Johnston, who was governor from 1787 to 1789, oversaw the state convention that ratified the Constitution. The copy was also found with a letter from George Washington asking for ratification.
The last copy of the Constitution sent to states was sold for $400 in 1891. The last copy of the Constitution sent to delegates (one of 14 known copies) was sold to billionaire investor Kenneth Griffin for a record $43.2M in 2021.
The sum of the whole matter is this, that our civilization cannot survive materially unless it be redeemed spiritually. It can only be redeemed spiritually if it will place its faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
President Woodrow Wilson