Words To Live By

My President, it is natural for a man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth and listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation. For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it might cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst and to provide for it.

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They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. The millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us

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Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!

Most people will recognize the underlined portion as a quote from Patrick Henry. The above is a series of excerpts covers roughly 1/3 of Patrick Henry's 1775 "Call to Arms" in which he urged armed rebellion against England in order to obtain liberty from tyranny. Although I haven't yet reached the point where I am urging armed resistance to our federal government, it is amazing how apropos these words are in this time where many states are trying to disarm the general populace and when our president is trying not only to renew the Patriot Act, but to make it permanent. It is time the public wakes up and actively works to protect our freedoms. Write your representatives, vote against every freedom dwindling bill and politician. Put a stop to this nonsense so that America will remain a bastion of freedom for future generations.