In a very general sense “useful Arts” are human creative works instrumental in organizing “more perfect” way of life - politically, economically, socially, and culturally."
"Useful Art"of Fifers and Drummers -
communication system in battles of the past
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Advanced form of communication system in battle with Terror
With the onset of war in 1775, Virginia began to train an army to defend against an inevitable British invasion. At that time the American colonies did not have an army. There were very few trained military professionals. Forming an army required people who knew how to organize an army. America needed people who could supply the troops with uniforms, equipment, and food. Men who could teach, drill, and the manual of arms were scarce.
In Virginia, two men—Thomas Sterling and Thomas Hookins—offered their services teaching fifers and drummers - boys from age ten to eighteen. These young musicians were essential for every army at that time. They were the military communications system, regulating the soldiers' day in camp and providing signals to the troops in battle. Virginians badly needed “useful Arts” of fifers and drummers in future battlefields for their Independence.
In spite of a true understanding of an extreme necessity of “useful Arts” at that time, as well as a widely used term by the People of the Era of Enlightenment, the subject of “useful Arts” had been a question since the very moment the term had appeared as an integral part of the text of the Constitution of the United States (Article I, section 8). The only known articulate definition of the term came from Benjamin Franklin himself.
At the time of forming the text of the Constitution of the United States, Benjamin Franklin was asked by someone about “useful Arts”. He replied, that fifers and drummers playing music on a parade are “Entertainment“ and “Entertainers“, but the very same fifers and drummers playing the very same music on a battlefield are “useful Arts“ and Warriors. The definition given by Benjamin Franklin is absolutely correct. However, it is very far from being complete.
“Useful Arts” are much greater then just “fifers and drummers”. The truth of the matter is that the very text of the Constitution of the United States was a work of “useful Arts” by itself, irreversibly abandoning the old medieval Ideology of Absolutism and Monarchism for the “new order of Ages” - Ideology of Representative Republic. The latter forever altered Fate of the new born Nation by changing a perception of a common man from being a “royal subject” to a Free and Sovereign Individual, the Master of own Fate.
In a very general sense “useful Arts” are human creative works instrumental in organizing “more perfect” way of life - politically, economically, socially, and culturally. “Useful Arts” are Ideological Instruments that were indispensable for the creation of the Nation. “Useful Arts” such as the pattern of the U.S. Flag, the poetic language and music of the U.S. Anthem, the design of the U.S. Great Seal, the striking architecture of the National Capital, and etc. are the bond for uniting the Nation. It is impossible to maintain neither a well-being of the Nation at a Time of Peace, nor at a Time of War without ideologically charged “useful Arts”.
Fifers and drummers were basic, although, critical Instruments of “useful Arts“ of the eighteenth-century military. Just as Virginia enlisted soldiers and stockpiled arms and ammunition, it also trained fifers and drummers to work with soldiers in the field. Fate of the new born Nation was literally in hands of those courageous boys - the Warriors providing necessary communications system on battlefields. In more then two hundred years the Nation desperately needs new Instruments of “useful Arts” in battle with Terror.
“Human reason” for “the Progress... of useful Arts” is to form advanced “communication system” between different parts of the Nation - governments, population, political elites, intellectual elites, business community, military, and etc. - for a joint effort in combating Terrorism domestically and abroad. “Useful Arts” are vital for sustaining the Will of the Nation to resist Terror and maintaining Fate of the Nation “to form a more perfect Union“ ordered by a human reason of the Constitution of the United States. Great German writer Thomas Mann once said, “Human reason needs only to will more strongly then Fate, and she is Fate.”
Boris Tiraspolsky
Founding Member of