And America was not conceived of as a feudal state, feudalism being broadly defined as "rule by the super-rich." Rather, our nation was created in large part in reaction against centuries of European feudalism. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said in his lecture titled The Fortune of the Republic, delivered on December 1, 1863, "We began with freedom. America was opened after the feudal mischief was spent. No inquisitions here, no kings, no nobles, no dominant church."
Of course I could go on to say that feudalism was an agreement between two men in which one did service for the other in exchange for land, and has nothing to do with rulership. But then, I don't think anyone really cares about history anymore, or "getting it right"... :(
Damon.
------------------------------------------------------------ Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." Now Building: Tamiya's M26 Pershing ------------------------------------------------------------
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