The Tune That Defined a Nation | The Evolution of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic”

[@ClassicalNerd]

The next episode will return to classical content with Liszt! Now, as promised, the *show notes:* 3:56 (#1): This US map shows the interior borders of the country from mid-1858 to early 1859, and shows the border states as they stood until mid-1863, when West Virginia seceded from the rebellious Virginia and joined the Union as the 35th state. The map changed several times over the course of the war as the Union admitted both Kansas and Nevada in 1861 and 1864, respectively. 27:02 (#2): The only version of the _Battle Hymn_ I could find _with_ this obscure sixth stanza is Carly Miller’s, which substitutes “wrong” for “Time.” To quote the notes to the appendix from Stauffer and Soskis’ book on the _Battle Hymn,_ “readers have deciphered Howe’s scrawled sixth stanza in various ways; … there is no official version.” The version with “wrong” is the version on genius.‍com; how it got there is not something I bothered to research. 29:09 (#3): I forgot to cite the page number! This comes from page 121. 41:03 (#4): The exact words “separation of church and state” is not “strictly constitutional” because those _exact_ words are not found in the US Constitution-although the wording dates back to Thomas Jefferson and the concept pops up throughout the Constitution, including in various clauses of Article VI and the First Amendment.

[@jimjam5570]

It only "seems like a strange move" to you that confederates referenced a part of biblical slavery because you believe the narrative that the war was about the union freeing slaves, rather than reality, in which the union was infringing state and individual rights and liberty, and ultimately enslaved everyone to federal jurisdiction, which paved the way for such things as income tax, and the present predicament, which is just convoluted slavery with extra steps... They steal a large portion of your labor to then use against you, and spend so much that all your descendants will be taxed in the same such manner, as the tax only pays the interest... currently, homes and rent are becoming unaffordable, while at the same time, we are losing jobs to automation, ai, and the fed is saying employment levels are too good... And since they already stole the real money, and debased the currency, next they aim to simply replace the currency with digital tokens (CBDCs) which can expire (delete from your account) and be used only on certain goods, further enslaving us as there will be even less opportunity to save or invest in order to liberate yourself from the tax wage cage. It's totally appropriate.

[@withlessAsbestos]

I find it interesting that you left out the Paratrooper’s Hymn.

[@november2435]

"As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free" Prob my favorite line of the entire song Also, mad respect for using the 97th String Regimental's rendition of the song in the intro

[@joekennedy4093]

Same. Absolutely hate versions where it's changed to "live".

[@vitalisjakubauskas9567]

And this makes to me the mystical background, that United States shall stay to be the greatest country UNTILL they hold this God commendment and key cause why they are on this Earth. For all people on the World who seek and fight for freedom.

[@codycallaway9057]

Same ​@@joekennedy4093

[@dliessmgg]

Meanwhile in Switzerland, this tune has become a children's song where a cop's motorbike has a puncture and we fix it with a chewing gum.

[@iks.7048]

What is it called?

[@centurion7993]

What be the name this song sounds great

[@WGGplant]

outstanding

[@reginabillotti]

Given how many separate sets of lyrics have been written for this tune, that's not too surprising.

[@lray1948]

@@centurion7993 The Battle Hymn of the Republic

[@kalebrhea5822]

Just incredible! I had no idea that the battle hymn had anything more to offer than a song sung at church to celebrate patriotic holidays

[@gr-xw3sp]

Oh no. After Jesús dying to make men holy, " let us die to make men free." I'm far from being a religious guy, but I love this hymn composed by people who thought a Christian nation couldn't tolerate slavery. It can be related to Christianity having being the religion of the slaves back in the times of the Roman Empire.

[@tashalorm4313]

@@gr-xw3sp During the Roman Empire Christianity didn't even exist yet. When Christians started to populate the Romans' Empire, they were killed by rocks; like St Peter.

[@bladdnun3016]

@@tashalorm4313 Go read some history.

[@Jane_8319]

“Does the righteousness of John Brown’s cause justify his actions?“ Yes. I used to understand why people struggled with him, but the more I learn about slavery, the answer is a stronger and stronger yes.

[@viloinvictus]

No. I don't struggle with him and never have. John Brown waged war against the United States of America, quite literally treason. He killed many in Kansas and (arguably) led to 600,000 more deaths. Just reasons don't equal just actions.

[@GeneralLiuofBoston1911]

“I, John Brown am now quite certain that the crimes of this guilty land will never be purged away but with blood.” - In note to the Sheriff before he was hung.

[@ItCameFromTheSkyBeLo]

@@GeneralLiuofBoston1911 Every time I read this, it breaks my heart.

[@Cnhaddock]

Basically if you were a moral white man in that period, and John Brown was not insane, you were forced to confront the fact that you too should be dying in that cause.

[@Goldjin13579]

This is an incredible video! Well researched and adds so much valuable context, especially for post-war uses of the song. You deserve so many more views for how good your content is

[@ClassicalNerd]

Thank you! Honestly, one of the best ways to support my work (non-monetarily) is to share it.

[@theangryprogressive_YT]

​​​@@ClassicalNerd Hey Can you Share The Battle hymn of the republic At The Portest Chapter

[@Seriphin12]

The idea that John Brown started off as a radical and then became essentially a saint when Union troops saw with their own eyes the horrific sin of slavery is very poetic. Sometimes, a brave soul must stand up against great injustice.

[@Sea-Weathered-Seijin]

this has to be your best work so far. i'm so thoroughly impressed and thankful for the stuff you have on this channel dude

[@cadereinberger3315]

This is the single greatest piece of content ever produced in the history of the internet.

[@johannesbowman2194]

Lest we forget also the version sung by American school children "Glory glory hallelujah, teacher hit me with a ruler"

[@codycallaway9057]

I just sang that line in my head and all i can say is that it didn't sound well at all

[@SuperDuperHappyTime]

“I hit her right back with a yellow tangerine, and boy did she get mean.”

[@classicalmusic3334]

"Glory glory hallelujah" also makes a brief appearance in Karlheinz Stockhausen's electronic piece "Hymnen". But, then again, lots of anthems make brief appearances in it.

[@Miron_Marnic]

I've no idea how I found myself here, watching an hour long film about a foreign song, but here I am. Excellent work!

[@brendaboykin3281]

Thank you, Thomas🌹🌹🌹🌹Powerful!!! One of your best,and I love so many of your presentations. As a descendant of the enslaved in America, this segment particularly moved me. Heartfelt thanks and continued success.. Looking forward to whatever's next. Always entertaining and educational. BRAVO MAESTRO 🔥

[@musicalintentions]

Wow! Thank you for sharing this wonderful video with all of us.

[@lukejohnston4666]

There was blood upon the Risers there were brains upon the chute (U.S. Army Paratroopers song)

[@rightinthedome9973]

He ain't gonna jump no more!

[@GeneralLiuofBoston1911]

And he ain't gonna jump no more! Gory, gory, Hallelujah!

[@KitsuneRogue]

And the verse for the pilots: "the pilot tried a loop-de-loop at 0-0 feet.... Gory, gory, what a hell of a way t'die"

[@HistoricWrath]

One of the best and most succinct explanations of the cause of the Union and emancipation I’ve seen on KZbin, from a classical music channel!

[@Mr_Blah]

There was also a reworking of the lyrics by WWII paratroopers that talked about a rookie failing to deploy his parachute and being brutally killed, which is pretty funny.

[@rithvikmuthyalapati9754]

Blood Upon the Risers is the name of that number

[@alexdale8705]

What a hell of a way to die!

[@eg6559]

Prime example of military dark humor

[@GeneralLiuofBoston1911]

​@@alexdale8705Gory, gory, Hallelujah! And he ain't gonna jump no more!

[@WallyBDO]

One of the best video essays I've seen and I've seen a lot

[@Sound557]

Ok, this video is fantastic. Great job.

[@williamthebonquerer9181]

Profound video, provides insight on the American civil war I've not seen before

[@anti_nana4463]

Wow, this is my first video watched on this channel and you’ve got me locked in.

[@garflied]

Great video, watched to the end and it makes me appreciate the song even more now

[@jacobvanderweide]

Phenomenal video. Gave me the motivation to finish a video I’ve had on the back-burner for a year

[@Xictlii]

How doesn’t this video have WAY more views!

[@ClassicalNerd]

If you'd like to help fix that, please share!

[@rebeccalambert9491]

Super video!! Such great detail and analysis!

[@nickpineau4139]

Definitely the best vid I’ve seen by this channel so far, keep up the great work!

[@EuphroseneLabon]

Very informative. Thank you!

[@irawest7666]

The first black regiment was actually from Kansas. The First Kansas Colored Volunteers were the first colored troops to see battle in the Civil War, at the Battle of Island Mound in Missouri. They were instrumental in the Union victory. The 54th Massachusetts gets all the glory, and overshadows the First Kansas in pop culture.

[@ZakWithTwoZs]

"As Christ died to make men holy, let men die to make us rich" has Mark Twain ever not been based?

[@SBSMusicChannel]

45:16 love hearing the Chad Mitchell Trio sing this Mark Twain rendition. I’d absolutely love it if you did a video on some of their songs such as “Alma Mater”, “Rhymes for the Irreverent”, and any other of their political based songs like “John Birch Society”. Great video overall!!

[@henrygingercat]

Bravo - a truly virtuosic presentation.

[@NameGoesHer926]

Can you please do an episode on Väinö Raitio?? His music is so under appreciated and shows how massive an effect sibelius had on smaller Finnish composers lasting legacy!

[@AM-tu1rc]

This is a great video

[@builttoserve5719]

This is excellent, great work!

[@petenorton883]

excellent work

[@levifowler7933]

Here in France, the song is always a part of the memorial for D-Day. Many French are moved to tears by it, especially at the most famous line. For many French, the memory of Americans dying for their freedom is deeply touching, independent of their opinion on the United States.

[@Ishtah333]

I recommend you also check out the Song "Blood on the Risers" which is a version of "Battle Hymn of the Republic" composed and sung by American paratroopers during World War II. The lyrics chronicle the events of a tragic accident during a training jump.

[@iagreesbut]

This video is a gem

[@acepua2197]

My girlfriend and I watched your video and even though she’s not into history videos lol she really enjoyed this one! Great job 👏

[@alexalani10110]

I thought this video was great, I love your content!! Could you please do a great composers video on Dietrich Buxtehude? I feel there is so much more to him than the story of Bach traveling over 200 miles to see him in Lubeck or that Handel rejected his daughter. Like, is he really Danish or really German? It seems debatable in scholarship. Also, if Bach came back from Lubeck with different harmony, how much did he really gain from Buxtehude even if he was only with him for a short amount of time? And why is Buxtehude mostly a figure lost to history? Not that you have all these answers, but just ideas if you made a video on him.

[@ClassicalNerd]

Duly noted!

[@francisbassett-dilley2675]

Fantastic idea, Alex. I can’t lie when I say I too enjoy learning about Buxtehude’s life and, of course, his music.

[@theoharrah2618]

I feel their is so much more to the story of Dietrich Buxtehude that has yet to be explored in short form video essay format.

[@pauldarrall5903]

Well done

[@littlescooter5873]

Amazing video ☺

[@tylers9006]

I really love these videos!! Do you think you could talk about what composers past 2000 are doing? You are my number 1 resource for late 20th century music (there is not much accessible content). Maybe someone like Unsuk Chin or something- I don’t know much about 21st century music

[@arielfelts9111]

As a Unitarian Universalist its one of my favorite hymns. "Let us die to make men free", indeed!

[@tylerterrell8907]

Growing up below the mason dixon John Browns name was a slur growing up. “You don’t know what the John Brown you’re talking about.” As an example of one of the many ways it was used. Nevertheless the world needed several more John Browns back then.

[@mikebarnes6705]

John brown is a great man and a hero, his operations and his battles "most famously, the battle of blackjack, which he fought henry pate, a army general at the point while underwhelmed, and won" in kansas should be remembered more.

[@viloinvictus]

John Brown was FAR from a hero, he rampaged and killed and intended to create guerilla warfare, and he is arguably a cause for the Civil War. Besides that, Henry Pate wasn't an "army general" at that point, he would have been only 23 and WAY too young for a commission in the army of that measure, and his defeat to Brown shows he wasn't even army quality.

[@sc6658]

John Brown did nothing wrong. 💖

[@ZachValkyrie]

May his example continue to teach us all how to be just in an unjust world.

[@sirbillius]

Amen

[@JulianPerez-it9sm]

So true. John Brown didn’t do anything wrong, he just did too much right for his time. As long as the Lord’s grand and holy code of Justice, equality, and brotherhood among all of mankind lives on in the world, John Brown will truly never molder in the grave. Instead he, along with President Lincoln, Frederick Douglas, the 1st of Arkansas, Ulysses S Grant, Teddy Roosevelt, General Dwight D Eisenhower, John F Kennedy, Dr Martin Luther King Jr, and of course the gracious and righteous Julia Ward Howe will forever remain, MARCHING ON!!! 🎶 🇺🇸🫱🏻‍🫲🏾🇺🇸

[@hrunchtayt1587]

His soul goes marching on 🗣️

[@yourfriend8052]

I mean his raid at Harpers Ferry killed innocent people, so that’s not very nice.

[@fiddlemusik]

"Really, Bill? This line is the one you have to read?" ROFL... thanks for the laugh, and excellent history. To be fair (not that I really want to with him) that line does change with every chorus.😋

[@bilboandrew767]

Outstanding

[@SantaFe19484]

Awesome story! Now I know why this song is so popular, despite not being the national anthem.

[@anthonypierce1880]

Thank you .

[@gabrielfaure9091]

Okay, bro officially knows his shit and did hella research. Thanks so much for this.

[@williamelgin6873]

I knew an Episcopalian priest who felt it was a great Advent hymn. Just listen to the first. Interesting how well it is known in the UK. Congregations there can sing it by memory and with feeling.

[@ohrn3008]

AND HIS SOULD GOES MARCHING ON

[@alexandernava-castaneda228]

No matter how much the american dream becomes nightmare this song always make me want to believe in America. I had a hard time fully understanding why but your deep dive into the theological nature and history of it being used to praise and condemned the nation open my eyes to why. It is very much a spiritual anthem for any republic or a christian nation, a song that will rebukes its past sins while also praising its pasts feats against tyranny. I am very picky with renditions of this song, refusing to listen to a version that replaces "die to make men free" to "live to make men free" because I believe it ruins the spiritual tone and deterministic outlook of the hymn. When I notice in the comment sections of this song that people from warzones praise the song while transfiguring the songs theme of holy or just war into their own conflict for freedom, I see the spirit that made America marching on.

[@PersonstuckinMichigan]

Good vid

[@krios7299]

I only know of this song during my playthrough of Wasteland 3. And to be honest its probably my favorite version of the song.

[@nevarraven9048]

Will you do a video on the Battle Cry of Freedom?

[@ClassicalNerd]

No. This is a one-off.

[@Polavianus]

Honestly, it isn't as popular as Battle Hymn

[@jamesorth6460]

you ought to do one on When the Chariot Comes

[@gordwilkes]

Thank you for this video... I'm a self-taught violinist (although my father was violist in the VSO)... I really enjoy learning old hymns from 19th century America. John Brown's Body is a hard hitting song... And without this song, there would by no Woody Guthrie or Pete Seeger, and more great American songs that were "hard hitting for hard-hit people."

[@Tokkemon]

Amazed that you got through all of that and not once mentioned Peter Wilhousky!

[@codycallaway9057]

Rest in peace John Brown

[@aeoe665]

What’s the version of the song in the National anthem part?

[@ClassicalNerd]

That would be Carly Miller's cover, which also introduces the Theology segment and plays it out. (Info in description.)

[@aeoe665]

@@ClassicalNerd Thanks.

[@shawnlam3109]

Part 2: Solidarity Forever, Blood Upon the Risers, and Move on Over (or We'll Move on Over You)

[@bestinvent]

And that one japanese student song

[@jakinboaz8558]

8:24 So true.

[@caseyb1346]

3:05 In a society that tolerated slavers and slavery, he was the only sane man. And while the Battle Hymn of the Republic is nice, I hate that it doesn't mention the Hero its tune is based on once. Though I suppose that is part and parcel for how our nation has always worked. That being papering over the radical revolutionaries and their message with a sanitized caricature, and then "honoring" them every year with it and teaching our kids those half truths in our schools.

[@stargazer-elite]

Idk what the original is called as it was originally a French song but do you have a video on the tune of “god save the king/qeen” it was a song of which the tune would be used by many countries as a anthem or patriotic song in fact in the USA there’s at least 3 versions that I can think of lol

[@TheVoid_Dweller]

Somehow got here from Wasteland 3, glad it brought me here.

[@luckyjohnnyWYID]

His Truth is Marching on....

[@amsb4dafunk558]

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord The Chorus, and Groove of the Battle Hymn Of The Republic Was Taken from a song called John Brown’s Body ol’John Brown was a wee’bit of a religious fanatic You Should watch your tone, Stanley For His soul marches on.

[@YOSSARIAN313]

Great video. Hope you get the attention you deserve. Also john brown did nothing wrong.

[@BoliceOccifer]

I really wish it was the national anthem except for that beauty of the lilies line. Bro, he was born in a food trough. The whole point is that Jesus humbled himself when he came to earth and that "beauty of the lilies" stuff detracts from that.

[@robscott8296]

10:46 this is my favorite by far, I wish I could find it

[@jamf4924]

John browns body is a'moulding in his grave, yet his soul is marching on!

[@tashalorm4313]

"It is easy to stand in the crowd, but it takes courage to stand alone." Mahatma Gandhi. John Brown's soul continues marching on.

[@williamthebonquerer9181]

In the uk we learn about the American civil war for some reason and we learn that John brown was Ur typical bibel belt American so I've always been confused that modern evangelists don't use his iconography and I'm even more confused why radical left wingers on twitter use his iconography.

[@ClassicalNerd]

John Brown was deeply religious, to an extent now most commonly seen among hardcore evangelical Christians, but his politics were radically further to the left than the typical conservative. He's viewed as a martyr for anti-racism independent of _why_ he fought for that cause, and modern-day conservatives' issue with Brown stems largely from the question of whether his ends justified his means.

[@Johnny-mp2ew]

Because he killed slave owners and conservatives don't like that

[@WGGplant]

Things aren't often so black and white.

[@The_New_IKB]

​@@ClassicalNerdask the Royal Navy they would say that the West Africa Squadron proves that the ends justify the means!

[@jmweed1861]

John Brown Was a Radical Abolishionist. Far More Radical in his Actions than the Abolishionists in the North. His actions in Bloody Kansas in the 1850s and the Raid on Harper's Farry to supply f i rearms to insite a Slave Revolt were Not the Thinking of the Average Abololishionst actions. The Original Lyrics were sung my Northern Soldiers throughout the war, especially as the war turned from just restoring the Union to also Freeing the Slaves. In fact, it was song by both The Army of the Potomac on May 23, 1865 and Sherman's Armies of the West ( Army of the Tennessee and Army of Georgia ) on May 24, 1865 as the marched down Pennsylvania Avenue in the Grand Review of the the Union Armies in Washington DC. Not Julia Ward Howe's Version...

[@alexander-xj2nn]

the modern "bible belt" has nothing to do with the Second Great Awakening. The great awakenings were especially strong in the frontier regions but also in places like upstate new york.

[@tuckerfarmer6274]

Whoch os were the lines "he captured harpers ferry woth his 19 men so true. he frighted ol virginia till she trembeled through and through. They hanged him for a traitor the themselves the trador crew" those three lines explain everything and and the bible verse john 15:13 is on the memorial of one luetenient freidrick lengfeild

[@DavidComsay]

"Unless your justin trudeau" is too funny

[@dontworry1302]

Caught me by surprise, was perfect.

[@hard2getitrightagain314]

Don't forget the camp favorite: I wear my pink pajamas in the summer when its hot. I wear my flannel nightie in the winter when its not. And sometimes in the spring And sometimes in the fall I jump between the sheets with NOTHING ON AT ALL!!! Glory glory hallelujah Glory glory, what's it to ya? Balmy breezes blow right through ya' WITH NOTHING ON AT ALL

[@ryanrusch3976]

I have seen Him in the watch fires of a hundred circling camps.

[@piratejack6577]

When I first heard first of Arkansas I presumed it was a legitimate dialect of English used by the enslaved peoples as it has the same features as gullah geechee which was what is arguably a wholly new language that emerged out of the creole languages spoken by enslaved peoples in certain areas of the south, a verse having the verb “gwine” meaning “going” which is gullah geechee of origin

[@24mlc]

How there was no mention of the Mormon Tabernacle choir singing this at Reagan’s inauguration is a mystery to everyone. Rare miss here.

[@LordHighCheese]

You missed a version. Gory, Gory, it's a hell of a way to die.

[@shanebrown2009]

John Brown, like all revolutionaries, was a nut job.

[@baneofbanes]

Yah he sure was a nut job, believing that Africans are people.

[@thebender7458]

​@@baneofbanes Real

[@AnakinSkywakka]

"He's a little confused, but he's got spirit."

[@nicholasneyhart396]

He was a nutjob, but he was one of our nation's favorite nutjobs.

[@anaibarangan4908]

Who can see how much God's truth is marching on on Earth? I can see through the dark side..

[@brianhowe1982]

We're rather proud of Julia.

[@wildweasel8564]

The opening salvo of the War on Terror was the singing of the Battle Hymn of the Republic at the National Cathedral on 9-14-2001.

[@albertosantamaria917]

👏👏👏👏👏

[@kaiserslavaniaashur1623]

33:34 "Chris was born across the sea" who dafug is chris???

[@lukejohnston4666]

British association football "Glory glory Man(chester) United"

[@LeoiCaangWan]

Norman Finkelstein brought me here.

[@terrancehood5292]

The only thing keeping this song from being the national anthem is it's religious undertones. Too bad too, it's an amazing song.

[@MrClarkkerr]

Really good video. i had thought Julia Ward Howe's re-write was a sanitisation of John Browns Body and it is. However the lyrics in themselves even for an atheist have a real poetic power. like that MLK final speech. Jerusalem the unofficial English national anthem has something of a similar rich history. The lyrics are originally a poem by William Blake - a radical republican and Christian millenarian also influenced by Emanuel Swedenborg. He was largely dismissed as a dangerous crackpot in his life time. The poem written about 1804 - 1808 looks backwards to the time according to legend that a young exiled Jesus came to England, but contrasts that to the reality of modern England of the industrial revolution with its 'dark Satanic mills'. The second and third verses of the poem exalt the reader to fight to bring about the millennium in England - a new Jerusalem. The poem is Postmillennialist Christian eschatology and a also a call for social and environmental justice. Blake was taken up by the Romantic movement and his poetry especially became popular. In 1916 during World War One the government was very concerned with growing disaffection with the war especially amongst the political left and progressives. "The fight for right" campaign was a pro war movement aimed at radicals and progressives. The Poet Laureate Robert Bridges asked Hubert Parry to put the Blake poem to music for this campaign. He did and it was an instant hit. However Parry became disillusioned himself from the Fight for Right campaign and tried to withdraw the song from public use. Until he was asked by women's suffrage campaigners if they could use the song at one of their campaign rallies. Parry gave the rights to the song to the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies (NUWSS). This is the reason it is still sung today at the beginning of all Women's Institute meetings. The song has continued to be taken up by the political left. Labour leader Clement Attlee used Blakes words and imagery of the New Jerusalem to describe the Labour Governments reform programme after the 1945 general election. Its ecological dimensions has led to it being taken up by environmental campaigners. The right have also picked it up as its an explicitly Christian song and it can be read as wanting to restore a lost ancient England. Although as 'Land of Hope and Glory' or 'Rule Britannia' have become more contested for their imperialist themes the right seem to have seized on these more. Its also long been seen as a hymn, often sung at weddings and in "public" schools. Although its status as a hymn is contested by some Christians. Blake's Christianity was deeply un-orthodox and some see it as a poem / song with Christian themes but its not in the form of a prayer as hymns traditionally are. However its also increasingly become seen as a general patriotic song to be sung at Sports matches. England itself does not have its own national anthem. The England Football Team sings God Save The King, but that's the UK national anthem and is just about the monarch. So you have seen Jerusalem used more for sport events. England Cricket and Rugby League Teams have used it.

[@nathangerber1547]

15:43 Latter Day Saints believe the civil war was punishment on the United States for rejecting God’s Restored Kingdom among other sins.

[@nathangerber1547]

Also I’m learning a lot of interesting takes on the Millennium when he gets to that. I fee Latter Day Saints sit partway between those schools of thought. We believe in an Apocalyptic coming of Christ, but that we must build a kingdom to welcome Him when He comes. It has the building like to social gospel, but the theology of the Evangelism.

[@nathangerber1547]

Kinda

[@baneofbanes]

Mormons being cringe as usual.

[@JorJorIvanovitch]

Superb video. Except your commentary on what "is" Constitutional is a stretch. The "separation of church and state" is not written verbatim. But, the 1st Amendment statement of free expression AND anti-establisment, signals that religion was to be a social and political influence, but not legally institutionalized to be synonymous with official, positive law governance. The same could be said about your statement of Wilson. Although I'm more inclined to agree with you in your Wilson statements, it still depends on the legal philosophy one adopts as the foundation of constitutional interpretation. Aside, from those comments, I found this video exceptional and informative.

[@ClassicalNerd]

I think it's hard to say something is truly "constitutional" unless it's actually in the constitution-we can certainly extract the principles of separation by adding up Article VI and the First Amendment. (In my experience, most American's _haven't_ read the Constitution, so it behooves me to include trivia on common misconceptions-this one included.) I'm not aware of any (mainstream) legal philosophy that would permit Wilson's perverse crackdowns on free speech. It's one thing to limit the yelling of "fire" in a crowded theater-it's quite another to push laws that jailed people who spoke out against the government.

[@JorJorIvanovitch]

​@ClassicalNerd I agree with you regarding Wilson. Except that Marbury v. Madison carved out the practice of Constitutional Judical Review as an observed power of SCOTUS even though it is not explicitly stated in Article 3. The legal philosophy I'm referring to is a mixture of common law and civil law/statutory law that both rest on philosophical beliefs in both legal positivism and legal realism. In this sense, SCOTUS adjudication what is Constitutional as much as the Founders and the document itself. I think viewing the Wilson policy as a violation is correct, though as a matter of legal practice if SCOTUS said otherwise, that would make it so by definition, in a sense. As for separation of church and state: The verbatim language shouldn't be ignored, it bears mentioning that the Founders debated the inclusion of the Bill of Rights because some thought by enumerating them it would be assumed that the only rights the people had were those that were explicitly written. While others thought that failure to do so would lead to expansive, rather than explicitly limited, interpretations of the powers of government. By your own statement, that it is difficult to call something constitutional that is not explicitly written, this would mean the state has NO power to enforce state sponsored religion, as it is not a power expressly granted the government. Thus, it doesn't exist. Pair that with the expressly written 1st Amendment prohibition against it, and it is conclusive that the state lacks the power to endorse religion from both the lack of an enumerated state power to so do, and the enumerated prohibition that it cannot so do. If this is not the definition of a "separation," I don't know what is. It seems psychological gymnastics to reach any other conclusion.

[@kaakrepwhatever]

Now that Ron DeSantis has come out in support of slavery, it's time to rework it back into a social movement song.

[@peytonk5062]

Hell yeah

[@terriseverson3873]

Have you learned nothing about the media spin to demonize Americans fighting to preserve our Constitutional Republic? You cannot inhale propaganda fumes as an addict & love liberty.

[@nicholasneyhart396]

Source?

[@kaakrepwhatever]

@@nicholasneyhart396 I said that it's my opinion that Battle Hymn of the Republic should be reworked into a social movement song again. As it was back in the anti-slavery days. It is just my opinion. I'm not a person capable of doing this and promoting it myself as would be necessary. But I still think it could be a powerful anthem for the present.

[@erenjager4698]

@kaakrepwhatever I completely agree, we could use a new version of this song with some new lyrics to capture the problems and conflicts of our contemporary times. I would sing it everywhere I could

[@tentwoXII]

22:00 Hahahah

[@JaneDoe-b8y]

We used to believe in things

[@Taurian_]

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