I recently wrote a book about trying to understand America's past and present by living like the Founding Fathers.
Candles, quills, muskets, you name it.
In a new series of posts (this is the first), I’ll share some of the life lessons I’ve learned from my founders. (See the video at the beginning of this article.)
New York City man “practiced” the Constitution for a year. Here's 7 things he learned
My favorite Founding Father is Benjamin Franklin for a variety of reasons.
He was a brilliant writer, political thinker and inventor (even invented swimming fins!).
But another reason I admire Franklin is that he was a big fan of polite debate.
In his new book, “A Year in the Life of the Constitution,” author AJ Jacobs “tried to understand America's past and present by living like the Founding Fathers,” and one of the highlights is Benjamin Franklin's emphasis on civil discourse. (AJ Jacobs, Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
In early America, Franklin formed a social club called the Junto.
This group of men met every Friday and had in-depth discussions about how to improve themselves and their country.
The rule encouraged “inquiry” and discouraged “contentiousness” — the goal was to reduce arguments and increase questions.
The rules encouraged inquiring minds and discouraged contentiousness.
During my year living by the Constitution, I tried to respect our Founding Fathers’ ideals of civil discourse.
And one of the ways I did this was by hosting an 18th century-style dinner party for 12 people at my home.
We dined by candlelight; I had beef stew with cloves (early Americans loved cloves).
As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, we invite you to join us: “Be inspired by our nation's future.”
We drank Martha Washington rum punch and recited the Founding Fathers' toast: “Free from king as well as from mob.”
But more important than the food and drink was the composition of the guests.
I invited people from all walks of life — conservatives, liberals, moderates, progressives — to join us for some great discussions — respectful, deep discussions about the Constitution and about America.
“We had a great discussion — a respectful, deep discussion about the Constitution and America,” Jacobs said of the dinner, which featured “people from all sides of the political spectrum.” (spxChrome)
Instead of thinking of dinner as a discussion, we tried to think of it as a puzzle that we were all solving together.
For example, we asked each other what we believed, and I tried to understand why we believed it.
We discussed what evidence might change our minds or evolve our views.
“We need more inquisitiveness.”
The 12 of us who gathered that night didn't agree on everything, but we did agree on one thing: Americans need to engage in more face-to-face, civil conversations with people outside our communities.
I believe we need to be more inquisitive.
I think we need to listen more, and the outraged posts on social media need to be cut down significantly.
Crisis on college campuses: What college presidents can learn from the Founding Fathers
Benjamin Franklin said that when discussing politics or other controversial issues, you should avoid words like “certainly” and “undoubtedly.”
Instead, you should use phrases like “It seems to me,” “If I'm not mistaken,” or “I should think so for such and such reasons.”
“The Year of Living Constitutionally” is the latest book from bestselling author AJ Jacobs and was published by Crown this year. (Fox News Digital)
Alexander Hamilton held a similar view.
In “The Federalist Papers,” he urged avoiding an “intolerant spirit,” adding that “in politics as in religion it is alike folly to seek to make converts by fire and sword.”
At the Constitutional Convention, Benjamin Franklin told a humorous little fable (he loved to joke).
“Let's have civil dialogue with people from all walks of life.”
Franklin said that one day there was a French woman who was talking to her sister.
The Frenchwoman remarked that it was strange that she had never met anyone other than herself who had the right opinions on any subject.
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Franklin's point was that we are all that French woman.
We all believe we have a monopoly on the truth.
I know I feel that way most of the time.
But I try to fight that tendency and do what our Founding Fathers would have done: engage in civil dialogue with people from all walks of life.
Here's one more piece of advice.
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If you decide to have an 18th century style dinner with your neighbors this election year, trust me when I say it.
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It's also safe to clean in a 21st century dishwasher.
