Prior to the American Revolution, the Thirteen Colonies each formed a committee of correspondence to share facts regarding the actions of the British government within the colonies and the interpretation of those facts insofar as they impacted the liberties of the colonists. During this period information was disseminated by letters to be carried by couriers on horseback or by carriage and ships sailing the coastal waters. The correspondents played a critical role leading to the Revolution by assuring that accurate information regarding those facts, and the colonial interpretation of British actions infringing freedom, reached the leaders and citizens of the colonies and also interested foreign governments. These “freedom correspondents” were instrumental in awakening the colonies to the need to stand and fight for liberty.
Today, we have a plethora of sources of immediate communications, but often nonetheless seem to have a dearth of real facts and analysis and poor understanding of our liberties. Our advantage in widespread communication capabilities has unfortunately also facilitated the easy spread of misinformation, disinformation, and ill-informed opinion. Ironically, we often find it difficult to be accurately informed as we live in an age of information. Yet, if we are to preserve our freedoms won so dearly during the Revolution and preserved at such enormous cost in life and treasure for over 225 years, we have a fundamental obligation to inform ourselves of facts and events occurring in our nation and understand the consequences they present for our liberties.
I believe that we have reached a point where an informed citizenry is again going to have to take reasoned but necessary actions to preserve liberty. Fortunately, unlike our ancestors during the Revolution, we have a structure of governmental institutions that will enable and support effective action. But unless we accurately inform ourselves of the facts, reach reasoned opinions based upon those facts, utilize effective means to communicate those opinions and persuade others, and finally act within all political institutions available to us, we may soon find that those institutions have become impaired and our freedom diminished.
To provide a vehicle for the solicitation and dissemination of accurate information, and a platform for reasoned opinion and debate, I have established this blog to serve as a modern Committee of Correspondence. As your first “Freedom Correspondent” I commit myself to documenting the facts that form the opinions I will state and to maintaining civilized discourse about liberty in the tradition of the Founders of our Republic. But as with the original Committees, only one correspondent cannot bring sufficient light. So I invite any others who will also so commit to join as Freedom Correspondents and expand our base of facts and our understanding with your opinions. Together, we can arm ourselves with the weapon of truth and break the walls that seemingly are being built around us.
Tom Trezise, Correspondent (aka freedomfan1776)
