Declaration of Independance

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_declaration_of_independence

"WASHINGTON – Preservation scientists at the Library of Congress have discovered that Thomas Jefferson, even in the act of declaring independence from England, had trouble breaking free from monarchial rule.

In an early draft of the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson wrote the word "subjects," when he referred to the American public. He then erased that word and replaced it with "citizens," a term he used frequently throughout the final draft."

This brings a striking thought to mind! What if Thomas Jefferson, a horticulturist, political leader, architect, archaeologist, paleontologist, musician, inventor, founder of the University of Virginia, and of course, the third President of the United States, secretly harbored dreams of his own kingdom? Obviously, he was such an intelligent and revolutionary man, one might be able to see how he could simplify many of the country's problems if he were just the man in charge, like the President, and to stay in charge, like a King.

The artistic side of my mind begins to pull together all sorts of wild thoughts where perhaps Jefferson is the United States' first major villain, and others such as Alexander Hamilton the heroes who opposed him. Jefferson's mounting financial problems could be a turning point in this wildly imagined story in which mild political philosopher becomes enraged would be king. And finally, his death, caused by toxins in his blood and uremia from nephropathy, severe diarrhea, and pneumonia, even though attributed to old-age, could have been the result of his own mad experiments, or perhaps due to a successful assassination attempt by poisoning.

As always in my mind, history serves up some of the most delicious tidbits of information that make speculation regarding past years much more fun than the dreariness of today's sad realities and absurd headlines.