But...The Founding Fathers Were Young, So...

This post was prompted by the meme below:

The idea being that we should listen, and take counsel from, those anti-gun activists in Broward Co.

Keep in mind, they had all finished school long prior to those experiences, and had taken on the responsibilities of grown men.- Lafayette - commissioned an officer at 13. Even though he was accepted as a soldier in the Colonial Army (major general), note that he was NOT given responsibility for having troops under him. He had to demonstrate more than a desire to do good to have them trust him with that power.- Monroe - at age 11, he was simultaneously attending school part of the year, and working on his family's farm. At 16, he left to attend college - actually learning things, not partying in FL on Spring Break. He left 2 years later to join the Army.- Lee - he had already graduated from college, and was working as a lawyer when he joined up.

- Hale - at 14, he was sent to Yale College. After graduating, with 1st-Class Honors, he became a teacher. I have no reason to believe that teaching has ever been an easy job, so, perhaps that experience matured him beyond his years. When war broke out, he joined a militia, but did NOT go with them when called up (he was apparently under contract as a teacher at the time). He later joined Washington's army (when he was 22).
- Burr was clearly a gifted child - he entered The College of New Jersey at 13. He graduated at 16, and studied first theology, then law, before joining the Revolutionary Army.
- Hamilton - sometime between 15 and 18, he entered what is now Columbia College, and failed to graduate only due to the closure of his school in the war. He drilled with the Continental Army, and was in several battles. He spent part of the war on Washington's staff.

Yes, all of the above men were, in fact, quite young (by our modern standards). Keep in mind that many children were working full-time at 12 and above during that period. Their labor was hard, physical, and often dangerous. The men in the above were privileged to be able to attend school and college during the same years others were taking on the jobs of men.

The students today cannot be compared. They do not, generally, support themselves and their families. They have pampered and leisured lives that that above people could only dream of. And, they, unlike the above men, expect adults to "shut up and listen". Such hubris is NOT something that these men would have shown towards their elders.

So, no - NOT the same.

Share