by Lenna Gonya

Created on: March 13, 2010

“They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither safety nor liberty.” - Benjamin Franklin.

Among Franklin’s many achievements, his fight for liberty and democracy is certainly his most endearing.

Benjamin Franklin could have become a soap maker, store keeper, or printer’s assistant, and lived his life in perpetual obscurity. There was something great in him from birth, however, that would not let him. He was destined to be the rock, the cornerstone, and the “old man”, who held the Constitutional Conventions together, worked to keep the peace among the delegates, and, fought to bring about democracy.

One of seventeen children, it would have been easy for him to have become lost in the basic struggle to survive. Refusing to settle, however, and against all odds, he set off from his native Boston, and traveled to Philadelphia, where he put down roots, and found his niche in life. With calm determination, common sense, and, a belief in himself and his own decisions, he pursued his goals, much as he pursued liberty for the country as a whole.

Of course he was an inventor, scientist, philosopher, and writer. He invented a stove for the masses, he thought up the concept of fire insurance, the modern idea of the fire department, and the library system. And, of course he dabbled in the field of electricity.

His greatest contribution to the world, however, was the fact that as far as diplomacy, wisdom, and politics, he was decades ahead of his time. Accustomed to struggle, blessed with wisdom, patience and foresight, he was able to contribute sensibility to the business of constructing the new country. With nothing to gain, but the satisfaction of knowing that he had contributed to the creation of the United States of America, Franklin worked tirelessly until his death.

He was the star attraction of his time, a charmer, a brilliant story teller, and, a tactician. He knew and understood people, and how to deal with them. It was because of Franklin that France finally decided to aid America in it’s fight for independence.

He was emissary to England, ambassador to France, and chief consultant, wise orator, and essential peacemaker among the delegates to the Constitutional Convention.

One of his wise sayings was that for anyone to be remembered after they are gone, they either need to write something memorable, or do something memorable that can be written about. Franklin certainly did both, but he probably would have been most proud of the role he played in ushering in the concept of democracy for America and the world.

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