I goggled; “Thomas Paine” and it threw me 14,80,000 results. There could not be second thought that person who died exactly 2 centuries ago is still popular across all the ranks. It has got to do something with the senses which were uncommon to recognize the most common of them. This is a true testimony that the book “Common Sense” he wrote earlier in his life still prevails. A very thin book, voluminous in thoughts, originally printed in a pamphlet form for free distribution. The pamphlet calls for the direct action by his fellow countrymen to throw British out of America, a call for independence and action by saying “This is the right time for action”. If In India, Gandhi had “Ahimsha” as the weapon in west “Paine” had the pen which proved to be mightier than the sword. It’s amazing to see how great thoughts can really be expressed in a few lines.
He begins with describing government as “produced by wickedness,” that restrains vices. According to him, government promotes our happiness negatively, creates discrimination, and is nothing but a punisher. As per the English constitution the King is not to be trusted without being looked after and the common man is assigned with the task of looking after the King. . Hence the constitution has given power to the common to excise his right of keeping an eye on the king. Later on, contrary to this, the power has been given to the king to make the Bill to check the common man. This makes the implementation absurd. Thomas has directly charged the dynastic rule. How was the first king appointed? It could be done by any of the three means: by lot, or by election or by usurpation. If these are the means then where is the scope for the dynastic rule? Two centuries ago these are the questions still valid thou might not be in his geographic area, and all I could say is there is no expiry date for common sense.
Thomas has described the status of Boston in very simple language but hitting hard below the belt, “inhabitants of that unfortunate city (Boston), who but a few months ago were in ease and affluence have now no other alternative than to stay and starve or turn out to beg.” Even after this there are people who are crying for truce and calling for friendship again. He has questioned these people “hath your house burnt, wife and children destitute of bed, bread and butter, lost a parent or child and yourself the ruined and wrecked survivor? If you are not, then you cannot be judge of those who have. But if you have but still can shake hands with the murderers then you are unworthy as husband, father, friend, lover, you are a coward and a spirit of sycophant.”
Paine rejected the belief that Britain is there to do justice to the continent,” how an island so distant from America and ignorant of the continent can govern it? How an island can govern a continent.” A petition takes a full year to be implemented by then it becomes childish “there was time when it was proper and there is a proper time for it to cease”. Satellite is never larger than the planet that’s the nature. England and America, with respect to each other reverses the common order of nature.
He also suggested the system of electing a president, subject to the authority of continental congress. That means when he says the present system is rotten and asks for its destruction he has an alternative plan also in place. He presents his construction plan after the destruction.
It’s not the number but the unity, which forms the strength. Even if we accept supremacy of number even then America has the largest army. Naval force, by number British may seems to be stronger. But then, he analyzed the facts logically. Each naval ship has to travel 6000 miles up and down for refilling; only 10% of the entire English fleet, as claimed by British, is available on American coast. As because all ships are not sea worthy all the time and also British cannot pull up her 100% force on American cost. He calculated and found the total investment of all the ships together as owned by British is just 3,500,000 pound. An amount America can afford. Moreover America has all required capabilities, technical and material, arm, timber, iron, cordage as her natural products, while English and Dutch have to import all these stuffs. Thus America is better placed for shipbuilding.
At the end he calls for action again. He cries out why are we, then waiting for. Our defenses are better, our iron is superior, arms are better, ships we can build ourselves with our own materials, and we are courageous then what else we want? Why are we hesitating? British can give nothing but ruin. He again describes why is it the right time? And then call for action, “Present time is preferable than all other times. Present time is the true time for establishing ourselves”.
The book slowly built up the mind for revolution and then asked for immediate action.
He begins with describing government as “produced by wickedness,” that restrains vices. According to him, government promotes our happiness negatively, creates discrimination, and is nothing but a punisher. As per the English constitution the King is not to be trusted without being looked after and the common man is assigned with the task of looking after the King. . Hence the constitution has given power to the common to excise his right of keeping an eye on the king. Later on, contrary to this, the power has been given to the king to make the Bill to check the common man. This makes the implementation absurd. Thomas has directly charged the dynastic rule. How was the first king appointed? It could be done by any of the three means: by lot, or by election or by usurpation. If these are the means then where is the scope for the dynastic rule? Two centuries ago these are the questions still valid thou might not be in his geographic area, and all I could say is there is no expiry date for common sense.
Thomas has described the status of Boston in very simple language but hitting hard below the belt, “inhabitants of that unfortunate city (Boston), who but a few months ago were in ease and affluence have now no other alternative than to stay and starve or turn out to beg.” Even after this there are people who are crying for truce and calling for friendship again. He has questioned these people “hath your house burnt, wife and children destitute of bed, bread and butter, lost a parent or child and yourself the ruined and wrecked survivor? If you are not, then you cannot be judge of those who have. But if you have but still can shake hands with the murderers then you are unworthy as husband, father, friend, lover, you are a coward and a spirit of sycophant.”
Paine rejected the belief that Britain is there to do justice to the continent,” how an island so distant from America and ignorant of the continent can govern it? How an island can govern a continent.” A petition takes a full year to be implemented by then it becomes childish “there was time when it was proper and there is a proper time for it to cease”. Satellite is never larger than the planet that’s the nature. England and America, with respect to each other reverses the common order of nature.
He also suggested the system of electing a president, subject to the authority of continental congress. That means when he says the present system is rotten and asks for its destruction he has an alternative plan also in place. He presents his construction plan after the destruction.
It’s not the number but the unity, which forms the strength. Even if we accept supremacy of number even then America has the largest army. Naval force, by number British may seems to be stronger. But then, he analyzed the facts logically. Each naval ship has to travel 6000 miles up and down for refilling; only 10% of the entire English fleet, as claimed by British, is available on American coast. As because all ships are not sea worthy all the time and also British cannot pull up her 100% force on American cost. He calculated and found the total investment of all the ships together as owned by British is just 3,500,000 pound. An amount America can afford. Moreover America has all required capabilities, technical and material, arm, timber, iron, cordage as her natural products, while English and Dutch have to import all these stuffs. Thus America is better placed for shipbuilding.
At the end he calls for action again. He cries out why are we, then waiting for. Our defenses are better, our iron is superior, arms are better, ships we can build ourselves with our own materials, and we are courageous then what else we want? Why are we hesitating? British can give nothing but ruin. He again describes why is it the right time? And then call for action, “Present time is preferable than all other times. Present time is the true time for establishing ourselves”.
The book slowly built up the mind for revolution and then asked for immediate action.
