A Thought From Patrick Henry...

On 23 March 1775, Patrick Henry stood before the Virginia Convention in Richmond and spoke.

Among the many things he said, he is most remembered for the profoundly thrilling line, "I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"

In that speech he also said the following.

"It is natural for 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 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 may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it. ...

"We are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of Nature has placed in our power. ...The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. ...

"If we wish to be free; if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending; if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained - we must fight!"

The siren song of illusory "hope" is sung by weak-minded dreamers and would-be tyrants in our day. They speak of "social equality" and "economic justice". They tempt our ears with "peace" and "unity". The price they ask to lead us all to this Utopia is our own, God-given liberty. Listening too long to that siren song will, as Patrick Henry says, turn us into beasts. Mere animals not free to choose their actions, but who are fit only to be acted upon by "masterminds" and social architects.

If we are to maintain the liberty handed down to us through hundreds of years and thousands of lives, we must fight!

How do we fight today? We do not fight with swords and guns. We do not fight with ships and cannon.

We fight by educating ourselves about the foundation of this nation. We fight by making the values and virtues that animated our forefathers our own. We fight be teaching our children that THIS is the greatest nation on earth; and the greatest nation in the history of the WORLD.

We fight by taking a stand for liberty and against tyranny wherever we are and with whomever we find ourselves. We fight by letting go of petty fears and embracing the spirit of bravery that led 50 men to pledge their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor to the cause of LIBERTY.