Many of the readers of this forum know of my personal views concerning this wonderful hobby. This is the greatest hobby in the world. Not because of what we collect or how we collect. It still offers everyone the ability to come together and enjoy the history that we hold in our hands. From the young child filling the open holes in their whitman folder to the investor laying out millions of dollars for a single coin. We all collect for a variety of reasons, and none of these are wrong. We should all reflect on what brought us into this wonderful hobby and share those reasons with the people that we know. Enlighten the minds of others with these minature works of art that we carry in our pockets. Education and knowledge are worthless to others if not shared. There are many opinions of what is wrong in this hobby, and shared too oftened. Let us share the good things, and make this hobby even greater.
A very good thought, sir. Of course, as I've already told you, your helpfulness has been very welcome, and I, for one, do very much appreciate it. If I may, I'd like to relate a little story about a coin I have. It's a charred, and barely recognizable Roosevelt dime. Not much to look at, but extremely valuable to this humble collector. You see, this small, partially melted piece of silver, was recovered from the rubble of what once was our home. We lost nearly everything, but our lives, in 1968. So yes, a person's coins can represent all kinds of things to him or her. In the case of that particular dime, it represents everything we had.
Great jody526 That is a great story---I'm glad your famly got out in time! Also I like your tag Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death! Speedy
Yea Jody, deep stuff and your tags speaker was a boyhood hero of mine except in Brooklyn we used to say just two words of defiance before we fought for whatever. I remember when I first read about Patrick in school, I thought wow that's how you suppose to talk or shall I state how one was meant to speak. Truly a deep story Jody, in a few words you said alot.
Thanks, guys. Yes, American history is a favorite subject for me. Patrick Henry is especially dear, as the county where I was born, and the county where I now live, were named after him. (Henry and Patrick) Coin collecting and American history, have always seemed to fit nicely togather. I really enjoy them both.
Our early history is full of gentlemen like Patrick Henry. These men were a cut above most. They not only set forth a great nation, but put there lives on the line to create the very freedoms we have today. They did not simply sit around and complain about the situation, these great men stood tall and proud and made a difference. It is a shame that in this country we do not teach our children about these men and the things they stood for and against. Throughout the first hundred years of our country, men fought for what they believed. Whether history decides it was right or wrong, at least these men and women did what they could. A lesson we could all learn.
I have not been a history buff, but my father was and I learned many things by means of osmosis. We traveled to battlefields and learned to "read" every bit of information posted. Even the simple task of raking the leaves in the fall was a reinactment of famous battles. I have often wondered just what will history say about the media saturation we have today? Neither we or our children are allowed to create the aura of greatness that todays leaders deserve. The internet is great and I use it daily, however, the speed of information is not allowing us to develope our own thoughts and frame our own opinions. Thoughts on this would be enlightening.
It's hard to imagine what "leaders" of today deserve any "aura of greatness". For one thing, politicians are not our leaders, they're the hired help who can't seem to keep to their places. For another, the only way any of this current crop of politicians could be called "great" is if the word precedes the term "con artist". The only man in Congress who qualifies as a statesman rather than a politician is Dr. Ron Paul of Texas. That "aura of greatness" for politicians is purely an artifice of the mass media. One of the biggest problems we have in this country is the culture of celebrity the media has built around politicians and which TV addicted Americans have fallen for hook, line and sinker. Sadly, the only thing most of today's "leaders" deserve is a prison sentence. A bigger bunch of unindicted crooks than the current crop in American politics would be hard to find. I'm in favor of giving all of them what they so richly deserve, but that wouldn't be any aura of greatness.
