Dear Thomas Jefferson,

 

Are you interested in continuing the conversation about your feud with John Adams?  What do you know about the duel between Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton?  All four of you must have been very angry.  When I look back at how you treated each other in times of anger, it seems very tragic to me.

 

Why did Alexander Hamilton think that the only way to solve his dispute with Aaron Burr was with a duel?  Since his son had died in a duel three years before, it is not like he did not know that the consequences of a duel might be death.  Today, we read in the history books that a duel was often about ‘affairs of honor’ and that such solving such affairs went through stages and were often ended before they reached the final stage, a face-off with loaded guns.  What do you think?  Was it an event that went too far, and Burr shot to…..well, I don’t know here….Did he shoot to injure or maim, or did he intend kill Hamilton?

 

It certainly did not solve anything, did it?  When it happened what was everyone saying?  Today, we have twenty-four hour news along with the internet and social media.  I can only imagine what would be said about such a story today.  I have read that Burr fled to his daughter’s house in South Carolina, but then he returned to complete his term as Vice President with you.  I really don’t entirely understand how he served out the end of his term without any consequences.  Did you ever talk to him about it?

 

You and John Adams eventually resolved your differences and became close friends.  On that sad day, July 4, 1826, it is reported that Adams was talking about you.  Were you thinking about him?

 

I understand that anger comes from three places: fear, pain, and frustration.  It can be from one of those triggers, or it can be a combination.  In your long feud with Adams, what were you feeling?

 

Do you think that teachers and schools should teach lessons about emotions?  Do you think that when we take care and pay attention to the emotional health of individuals when they are young, we could solve some of the problems we face today? 

 

I am thinking about gun violence.  I am thinking about what happens when an entire country divides itself because each side is looking at reality from an entirely different perspective.

 

I want to talk to you about some examples of what I am talking about when I think about helping kids and adults take care of their emotional health.

 

When can we get together?

 

Sincerely,

 

Katy Dalgleish