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COMMENTARY ON JEFFERSON'S WRITINGS
> I noticed while browsing your web site that there is an awful lot of
> commentary.
That is because you were looking at the web site devoted to COMMENTARY on
Jefferson's writings--The Jeffersonian Perspective. I have three major
websites as listed below. The purpose of the Jeffersonian Perspective is
to relate Jefferson's writings to contemporary issues. It is intended to
be *my* commentary based on Jefferson's writings. His writings are used
to support the points I make.
> The quotes I read from Thomas Jefferson here were all in bits and
> pieces.
That is the nature of commentary.
> So much energy was spent telling the reader what to think.
>
> I personally prefer to read the raw documents and use my own mind.
Then you should refer to the web site, Thomas Jefferson on Politics &
Government, where you will find quotations from Jefferson grouped under
subject headings. Or if you wish to read the raw documents themselves,
you can get a copy of the 20 vol. set of his writings, as I have, and
read them for yourself, as I have.
> I wonder if your readers would come to the same conclusions you did, if
> they had read the entire document with the quotes in their original
> context
> not amidst your explanations?
Maybe they would, maybe they wouldn't. If they don't agree with my
commentary, they are welcome to establish a web site and publish their
own.
The best easily available source for a selection of the writings of Thomas
Jefferson in their original form is:
Thomas Jefferson
Writings. Compiled by Merrill D. Peterson
New York: The Library of America, 1984.
It should be available in any good library. To purchase the Writings of
Thomas Jefferson at a 30% discount, click on the following:
Jefferson's Writings from Amazon.com
This link is offered in association with Amazon.com
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