Randolph Bourne (1886 - 1918)

Sun May 30, 1886

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Randolph Silliman Bourne, born on this day in 1886, was a progressive writer, disability advocate, and pacifist from Bloomfield, New Jersey who coined the phrase "war is the health of the state".

Bourne is considered to be a spokesman for the young radical voices during World War I. He is best known for his essays, especially his unfinished work "The State", which was discovered after his death.

In this essay, Bourne coined the well-known phrase "war is the health of the state", by which Bourne was lamenting governments' success at arrogating authority and resources during military conflicts.

Bourne was also disfigured from a difficult birth and suffered from tuberculosis of the spine at a young age, resulting in stunted growth and a hunched back.

Bourne chronicled these life experiences in his essay "The Handicapped - by one of them", now considered a foundational work in disability studies.

• Date: 1886-05-30
• Learn More: en.wikipedia.org, c250.columbia.edu.
• Tags: #Birthdays.
• Source: www.apeoplescalendar.org