Who Is Thomas Paine's Repetitiveness In Common Sense

Repetitiveness
History or events are probable to reoccur or repeat itself as time travels on. In Thomas Paine’s essay Common Sense, he shares his thoughts about history repeating itself and events that will most likely occur again in the future. In his essay, he fights for Americans independence from Britain. He mainly states the general government and religion of the time period, and then goes into depth about specific points that will eventually happen. Throughout his essay, Paine argues valuable points; “Do to others what you would like them to do to you, telling them how much better the world would be if everybody lived by this rule”, Until an independence is declared the continent will feel itself like a man who continues putting off some unpleasant business from day to day, yet knows it must be done, hates to set about it, wishes it over, and is continually haunted with the thoughts of its necessity”, and ” Time creates more converts than reason” All of these points in Paine’s essay are seen throughout the last fifteen years of life today; his thoughts can be related years from when he posted his essay, showing that Paine’s idea of history repeating itself is true. In these points in Paine’s essay, in these last fifteen years of history, 9/11 relates to the first concept, the unemployment rate relates to the second concept and Obama’s inauguration relates to
the third concept.
Thomas Paine’s Common Sense is still valid in today’s world through 9/11 and the reaction of the world during a catastrophe, the unemployment rate throughout the world inauguration, and
Obama’s inauguration.
The first concept is to treat other the way you would want to be treated, and the world will be calm. In Pain’s essay, this concept is reveled when he says “Do to others what you would like them to do to you, telling them how much better the world would be if everybody lived by this rule” (117 Paine). Pain states simply that when people treat others nicely, that others will treat them the same. The world would be a more peaceful place and that there is no reason for violence to people that have not caused harm to others. This concept is seen through an event never to forget. On September 11, 2001, terrorists attacked America, causing thousands of deaths, families to suffer, and America in a loss. Nineteen al Qaeda terrorist hijacked four U.S airplanes, deliberately crashing two of the planes into the Twin Towers in New York and the third plane into the Pentagon. The fourth plane was discovered in a field; the passengers tried to regain control, but crashed in an empty field killing everyone on board. From Eye Witness accounts, there were many interviewed people, and one man stated “I was about five blocks away when I heard explosions -- three thuds -- and turned around to see the building we just got out of tend to tip over and fold in on itself” (9-11 Research). New York was in a state of emergency. People from all over said “We join with our fellow Americans in prayer for the killed and injured” (History). This quote shows that America came together to help New York, who was in desperate need. People who were killed on that day, made others put themselves in their family’s views and came together as one to help those people in loss. This shows that when people treat others the way they would like to be treated, the world is created into a caring place. In Common Sense, the idea of treating everyone nicely and respectfully reoccurs again in history, making Thomas Paine’s essay true, showing that history repeats itself.
When something is not done, it will never get done until someone finishes it. In Thomas Pain’s essay, this idea is shown when he says “Until an independence is declared the continent will feel itself like a man who continues putting off some unpleasant business from day to day, yet knows it must be done, hates to set about it, wishes it over, and is continually haunted with the thoughts of its necessity” (200 Paine). He states that the only way to finish something is to work on it. Nothing will be accomplished unless worked on and completed. This concept is seen throughout the world today. Over the last fifteen years, the unemployment rate has gone up tremendously. Many people throughout the world, especially America have many people without jobs. Without jobs, many Americans cannot support their families, and suffer each day. In Trading Economics, this website states that the “unemployment rate has gone up from January by 7 percent”. (Trading Economics). With more people without jobs, people will continue to suffer every day. America has also made the job requirements harder because employers are demanding higher skills in a labor market transformed by globalization and technology. (The Facts). But the problem is no one is doing anything to fix the economic problem. America keeps putting the thoughts off, even though it haunts them. Without anyone stepping up, the rates of unemployment will keep going up, and by making the job requirements harder, does not help the unemployment rate either. With this being said, this shows that without action, nothing will be accomplished. In Thomas Paine’s Common Sense, his idea about not taking action on something that needs to be fixed reoccurs again in history, showing that history repeats itself.
Lastly, the idea of change to people is a scary event that most do not venture into. In Common Sense, the concept of change is seen throughout the essay. Paine makes the point that “Time creates more converts than reason” (2 Paine). The significance of this quote shows that people will not change; no matter what the reason, only time will change. Time never speeds up or slows down, time is constantly moving. Reasons do not make people change; only time can change it. This change is seen when the first African American becomes president of the United States. Barak Obama was the first African American president ever in the history of America. This idea seemed impossible because of the discrimination of the African Americans in previous years. CNN reports out that on “January 20, 2009, Barak Obama made history when he became the 44th president of the United States” (CNN). On this particular day, time was the reason that this change occurred. Time was the reason this happened, not by a reason. It took time to change the outlook on African Americans, not a reason. Since this incident had happened, this shows that history repeats itself. In Paine’s Common Sense essay, he shares that no matter how much a person wants change, time will bring that change and not a reason. This shows that history repeats itself, making the first African American president to be inaugurated by time not reason.
No matter what, history seems to find a way to reoccur, whenever the time. Today, history repeats itself through Paine’s ideas; first off showing that with crisis, however you treat people, they will treat you the same back. The second shows how nothing will ever get done until someone steps up and fixes it. Lastly, time makes changes, not reasons. All of these concepts have repeated themselves through history, through 9/11, the unemployment rate, and Obamas inauguration. Whether or not these reoccurring events are good or bad, history reoccurs. History repeats itself every day, giving the world a second chance.

WORK CITED
"United States Unemployment Rate." TRADING ECONOMICS. Trading Economics, n.d. Web. 02 Sept. 2013. . "Reaction to 9/11." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 02 Sept. 2013. .
"The Facts." Did You Know? Work Ready, n.d. Web. 02 Sept. 2013. .
"Eyewitness Accounts." 9-11 Research. 911Research.WTC7, n.d. Web. 02 Sept. 2013. .
"Barack Obama Fast Facts." CNN. Cable News Network, 20 Jan. 2013. Web. 02 Sept. 2013. .
Paine, Thomas, and Isaac Kramnick. Common Sense. Harmondsworth Middlesex, England: Penguin, 1986. Print.