Engagement- 18th Century Practice in a 21st Century World

This is a guest blog for Josh Hemsath's blog: Transplated An Alaska Dossier

Benjamin Franklin was an engaging man. From creating the first fire department in Philadelphia to currency with anti-counterfeiting techniques for New Jersey, to establishing the first hospital in the United States, to extreme political commitments worldwide, he was a man who made things happen based on the ingenuity of his own mind and the deliverance of his own ideas.

But how did he make all those things happen? He didn’t singlehandedly make the brick and build the hospital, or print and distribute the new currency, or gain a political position just by asking. No, Franklin knew that in order to do what he needed to do, he surrounded himself with people who could help make those things happen.

Franklin embodied a culture and lifestyle engaging to human beings from across the globe. How could one person generate so much common interest and faith in a world that was arguably more diverse than even today? Autobiographies and recollections of his life mention his tolerance and acceptance of religion, a very hot topic and cultural matter of the day. He found a common ground here and people saw in him what they wanted to reflect in their own character and values.

Which bring us back to being engaging. Benjamin Franklin is one in a long line of people who exemplify what it means to engage others. What are the common factors of each individual?

I wonder what Benjamin Franklin would think about virtual engagement. How would he have reacted to the Facebooks and the Tweets of today? Think of the difference between Franklin’s funeral in 1790 with 20,000 people, and Michael Jackson’s funeral with an estimated 5 million people viewing through technology. The way we are engaging people is changing…or is it?

Franklin, an inventor, created the common law so he could marry his adolescent love-interest after she had already been legally married. He signed the Declaration of Independence for our country, and he travelled around the world and had friends by the names of Louis XV, David Hume, and Joseph Pristley - all living in the time of Enlightenment, as scientists and as a piece of real social movement in the 18^th Century. I don’t know much about these fellows, except that they were incredibly smart and forward-thinking individuals. From what I do know, each of them was somewhat of a character, and all experienced some reservations and even abolishment from their respective societies. That being said, they all share name recognition in foundational building blocks of the world as we know it.

Today, Ben Franklin, his ideas, his tolerance, his innovation, and his robust passion for life are alive more than ever. Think of these 13 virtues he lived by:

1. "TEMPERANCE. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation."

2. "SILENCE. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation."

3. "ORDER. Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time."

4. "RESOLUTION. Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve."

5. "FRUGALITY. Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing."

6. "INDUSTRY. Lose no time; be always employ'd in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions."

7. "SINCERITY. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly."

8. "JUSTICE. Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty."

9. "MODERATION. Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve."

10. "CLEANLINESS. Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloaths, or habitation."

11. "TRANQUILLITY. Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable."

12. "CHASTITY. Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another's peace or reputation."

13. "HUMILITY. Imitate Jesus and Socrates."

Then think about engagement.

It’s not just about the people who are popular, or the ones who are screaming the loudest. I see people looking for something more than passé rhetoric and doing things that are community-minded, civically engaged, socially involved. Sounds like a lot of work? Benjamin Franklin would agree. But if you think about it in the simplest context it’s really quite simple.

Curiosity in people and in the world is engaging. Showing your spirit is engaging. Wearing your heart on your sleeve is engaging. Speaking your mind and listening engages people. Smiling at someone on the street is engaging. Sending a friend request or inviting someone to dinner is engaging. Music is engaging.

There’s no time to waste, and there’s no time like the present. Seek out whatever it is that engages you, however large or small, or whatever it is you feel compelled to do. Do it.

"If you would not be forgotten, as soon as you are dead and rotten, either write things worth reading, or do things worth the writing." ~ B. Franklin