Comments on: Joseph Palmer: Perscuted For Wearing The Beard

By: LJ

LJ — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 05:23:48 +0000

There is a film about this. Believe it or not, it’s a drama which tells the story of this man:
Telephone Time (1948) -a early TV series-watch it on DVD!

By: Islands Seen From Space (Links) — ty.rannosaur.us

Islands Seen From Space (Links) — ty.rannosaur.us — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:06:58 +0000

[...] WTF – Joseph Palmer: Perscuted For Wearing The Beard (Dyers.org). [...]

By: Joseph Palmer « Harry R. Schwartz

Joseph Palmer « Harry R. Schwartz — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 04:50:04 +0000

[...] this better blog’s post for an excellent telling of this wonderful story. Note in particular that his tombstone reads, [...]

By: Julie

Julie — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 02:01:23 +0000

Very well written. Genealogy is a hobby of mine, and wouldn’t you know it, Joseph Palmer my GGGG Uncle!! Their is a museum called Fruitlands in Harvard, MA that still has their actual home and furnishings from the time they decided to try the transdental living with the Alcotts, Thoreau, and Emerson. I have been to both the cemetary and the “museum”. I have a very similar photo of me standing next to Joseph’s gravestone. One thing I can say for sure, stubborness still runs in the family!!

By: Buddha Bear

Buddha Bear — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 02:00:50 +0000

He was probably safer in jail than on the streets of that town!

By: pedant

pedant — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 22:30:22 +0000

amen to that – “carried out of jail against his will” – is one of the funniest & most inspiring things i’ve heard in far too long! (raises flagon to Palmer)

By: Robert 'Bo' Harris

Robert 'Bo' Harris — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 22:25:35 +0000

Wow, what a great article. I was only mildly interested until I realized the length of the page was from comments. Anyways, I love how you took the entire history and condensed it so well. A great article Joe, Cheers from Middletown, CT.

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 16:38:53 +0000

i love that it says “the beard” instead of “a beard”. that is rich!

By: James

James — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 04:11:08 +0000

We should form the National Association of the Advancement of Bearded Men (NAABM)! This guy is my hero, I also am bearded and proud!

By: Preston

Preston — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:24:32 +0000

LONG LIVE BIG FREAKIN BEARDS!!!!

By: Gary aka Buddha Bear

Gary aka Buddha Bear — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 14:55:46 +0000

I made a little thing (an Ode to Joseph Palmer) on my art program and placed it on my myspace with a link to this blog! I average about 10,000 hits per year on my MySpace site…. thanks for the information on this quiet hero!

By: Gary aka Buddha Bear

Gary aka Buddha Bear — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 13:58:37 +0000

Wow! This was new to me as I’ve never heard of such a thing happening before! Good God I hope this ideal doesn’t resurface it’s ugly head…I’ll end up in jail too…

By: Ed Boston

Ed Boston — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 00:22:21 +0000

The man is an inspiration. We are all individuals and unfortunately, for the most part, you would never notice. As a society, we still frown upon those who dare to show their “unique individuality” . How many times have you looked down at some one that was dressed in a gothic style or perhaps wore some type of clothing which reflected their religious beliefs? Livig so close, I may visit his grave and give him an appause.

By: Svalka

Svalka — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 16:26:35 +0000

Vive la résistance!

By: Logan

Logan — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 11:33:02 +0000

Have you guys seen http://www.movember.com.au?
It’s an awesome charity in Australia to raise awareness for men’s health issues like prostate cancer and the like.

I live in Germany now, so can’t fundraise from here (they wear moustaches for other reasons here)

So any Ausies out there might want to check it out, or it could be another great topic…

Thanks for posting…

By: Rizz

Rizz — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 15:18:59 +0000

Yeah, everyone was shocked some years back when I grew me a Van Dyke -type of beard. The fact is, without it I’d be a babyface, and given I’m approaching 30 and employed in charge of a big unit, it not only makes me feel good and look more like I want me to, it gives me credibility. Thanks goes to mr. Palmer & co who’ve made having a beard not so sinful. Also, given my music taste and my way of viewing life, it sort of indicates in a way who I am. The beard is not going, at least for a good while. And if it ever should the reason will have to be a damn good one.

By: William Fusfield

William Fusfield — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 00:39:05 +0000

For those wishing to learn more about Joseph’s Palmer courageous struggle for the simple right to wear a beard in the intolerant New England of the 1820s and 30s, “Chapter IV” of Clara Endicott Sears book “Bronson Alcott’s Fruitlands” tells the story nicely. It is also a very interesting book in general and explains fully how and why the great “Fruitlands” project of founding a “second Eden” failed so quickly. Oh poor MRS. Alcott!!

By: Marianne

Marianne — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 14:20:14 +0000

whoa, that’s far out! If I was male I’d grow a beard in tribute to this guy! Brilliant

By: mb

mb — Wed, 28 May 2008 05:20:04 +0000

Hey, I'm glad you liked the Beard Revue post on you... you ought to put them in your blog roll for a while. I love the site, by the way.

By: badgirl

badgirl — Sun, 25 May 2008 22:49:48 +0000

Love that hulihee beard. Think that style was popular in the 1800’s. ??

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Fri, 23 May 2008 19:29:20 +0000

This is such a great post. Thanks for the story.

I’ve been wearing a man-beard ever since the 9th grade, so for about 11 years now (shaved only once in 10th grade…for some reason, amateur boxing requires no facial hair). I detest the though of looking at myself in the mirror without hair covering my chin and surrounding area. I guess I have a little spirit of Joseph Palmer inside of me.

Perhaps he should be made the Patron Saint of Beards, because I am pretty sure there isn’t one yet.

By: Renee Toms

Renee Toms — Sun, 18 May 2008 05:15:33 +0000

This mans courage and strength is so awesome! Why do some ppl have to be so lame and evil! Its a beard! Everymale grows hair there, its only natural and yea- where did god ever say-”Face hair is a sin!”

Its so messed up that so many ppl can think like this and hurt someone over such small insignificant choice differences. He wasnt hurting anyone! Stuff like this still happens all the time Is this world ever gona grow up!!

By: NCeddie

NCeddie — Thu, 15 May 2008 12:04:33 +0000

I am especially appalled at the ridicule he endured by his fellow church-goers.

As a man with a full beard, here is my personal story and belief:
Growing up, I was always unhappy with my lack of a predominate chin.
Once, as a young adult, while looking in the bathroom mirror,
I cursed my chin and popped it with a hair brush. It was then that I heard
that “small quiet voice within” say to me, “But, I gave you whiskers.”
And I remember saying aloud, “Ah-ha! so you did!!!”
From then on, I have had moustaches, goatees, etc., and 90% of the time
I have had my chin designed in some fashion with “fur” of various length.
I have often thought about the fact that only from the neck up does hair
continually grow to excessive length. No where else on the body does
hair do this. It has a sort of encoded length and stops there.
But above the neck, man can create all manner of appearances by the
length and style of hair and whiskers he chooses. So, therefore I look
upon whiskers and head hair as a “make-up” kit from God. I believe he
designed us and gave us a few options in how we choose to appear.
One is to view God’s designs as perfect so therefore having hair follicles
on the male face cannot be viewed as a mistake to be eradicated.
I never saw any commandment: Go forth and shave!

By: M

Tue, 13 May 2008 18:44:09 +0000

I wish men still grew out their beards, at least a little

By: mindwalker

mindwalker — Tue, 13 May 2008 06:32:32 +0000

This was well written and enjoyable, most of the great men of history wore beards. Only politicians like Bush and company dare not for they fear it would prevent them from telling so many of their blatant “bald-faced-lies”.