Over this past 4th of July weekend, after reading some Walt Whitman and watching some superb Portland fireworks, I also watched HBO's John Adams (for about the 5th time--I love that miniseries!) This time through, however, I was struck by the scene where Benjamin Franklin and John Adams edit Thomas Jefferson's draft of the Declaration of Independence. I don't have the script, but the scene went something like this:
Franklin: "These truths are sacred....no, that's not right. What else can we use for sacred?"
Adams: "These truths are obvious? Clear? No, how about self-evident?"
Jefferson, a bit piqued: "I chose each word carefully--each word has a special and exact meaning!"
Franklin: "Yes, yes, it's lovely. Beautifully written. Now let's use self-evident."
(Jefferson looking hurt and irritated.)
Solipsistically, my thoughts went immediately to my own summer writing project--not that I'm any Thomas Jefferson! But I figure if even Jefferson's gorgeous glorious prose needed a few revisions from helpful friends to become The Declaration of Independence, then perhaps, with many more revisions, my drafts could transform themselves from plodding prose into hopeful elegance.
Hey, if it's good enough for Thomas Jefferson....
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