In honor of Independence Day 2011, Watermark staffers decided to use our imaginations to answer one question:
If the Founding Fathers were to visit the United States in 2011, what would they think or say?
Rick Claggett, CEO: “I think they might question some of the false history placed on them recently, but they would be proud of the nation they fought to create.”
Steve Blanchard, editor-in-chief: “They'd be disappointed. The founding fathers would have to take issue with the Tea Party of today. I seriously doubt they'd have tossed all those barrels into the Boston Harbor if they would have known how that would translate 200-plus years later. Now if they had thrown in some hallucinogens and it was the Hallucinogen Party today”¦”
Jamie Hyman, Direcor of Online Media: “How long are they here? Because it’s gonna take at LEAST a month just to explain the internet, right?”
Scottie Campbell, blogger: “I think our founding fathers would find us a little foolish. We took ideas that they put on paper and have, for the most part, tried to apply them without flexibility. They could not have foreseen how the internet would affect freedom of speech. The right to bear arms was referring to muskets, not the efficient weapons we have now. Having said that, I think Ben Franklin would have a helluva good time at a gay parade.”
Scott McCauley, sales representative: “WTF”
Mark Cady, Orlando sales and online marketing director: “I think they'd run screaming from the United States and go to a far away land and form a ‘more perfect union’.”
Don Williams, sales representative: “Recognizing that the Founding Fathers were not infallable and had their vices, sins, etc., I think they would respond to the America of today with: Shock. Awe. Dismay. Amazement. Sadness. Fear. Happiness. Anger. I think many of them would long to be able to fix the things they think are bad or broken.”
Ed Blaisdell, proofreader: “Michelle Bachman? For PRESIDENT? Are you f—ing kidding me??”
Anthony Barros, sales representative: “After coming off of Pride weekend I think G.W. would think where do I get one of those wigs….lol”
Andres Duputel, web and creative assistant: “Completely different cultural and technological context, I think they would be in terrible shock. Definitely a future they wouldn't have been able to even conceive when laying down their original ideas of freedom and liberty.”
Feel free to add your own in the comments. Have a Happy 4th of July, everyone!
