Posted on 07/25/2009 7:16:31 AM PDT by HalfFull
"This is no time for ceremony. The question before the House is one of awful moment to this country. For my own part, I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery;"
"Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offence, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the majesty of heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings. "
"...it is natural to 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."
"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?"
"Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss."
"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!"
(Excerpt) Read more at history.org ...
Virginia Bump.
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.
Like expecting UN resolutions, dialogue, and giving goodies to IRAN and NK will prevent a nuclear holocaust in our near future.....
.....The time to act is before those nutcases release their nuclear fury, which is their intention of record.
False hope is no hope. Intending to buy time is to accept the inevitable in the case of nuclear weapons. The only "out" is offensive prevention when dealing with these lunatics without anything to lose. Deterrence doesn't work with them.
Shall we try argument? Sir, we have been trying that for the last ten years. Have we anything new to offer upon the subject? Nothing. We have held the subject up in every light of which it is capable; but it has been all in vain. Shall we resort to entreaty and humble supplication? What terms shall we find which have not been already exhausted? Let us not, I beseech you, sir, deceive ourselves. Sir, we have done everything that could be done, to avert the storm which is now coming on. We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the throne, and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and Parliament. Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne. In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation. There is no longer any room for hope. If we wish to be free² if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending²if 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! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of Hosts is all that is left us!
bump
Powerful words.
Who among us today can say things so complete and convincing?
Reagan was the last one.
It always amazes me how a Conservative, even though long dead, can sound like he is actively observing today’s events, whereas the Liberals sound like they are totally divorced from reality.
Virginia, whose first two governors were Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson, can hopefully find its way along with the rest of us back to the values that ignited the fire of liberty in this land.
WE CAN!!!!!
They haven’t killed us...yet.
Ironic, isn't it (even though PH was talking to the leaders (house), assembled in Virginia) that he said as part of that great speech:
"...The question before the House is one of awful moment to this country. For my own part, I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery; and in proportion to the magnitude of the subject ought to be the freedom of the debate. It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfil the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country".
The health care POS put together in the house right now is directly applicable to that great quote.
There are many in Virginia who still are solid conservatives. If Maryland could annex Northern Virginia, we'd be OK!
You maybe, not me. I'm not an orator. I do my best trying to make sense with the written word....but I don't deliver well at all.
I used to enjoy debate, but it seems so pointless anymore. I like to cut to the finish. I get mad and frustrated when dealing with truly clueless people, of which there are so many these days. Stupidity makes me flip out anymore.
Patrick Henry’s suggestion to King George that he should learn from the examples of Caesar and Charles I would invite a visit from the Secret Service. A not entirely unwarranted response given the history of the last 145 years.
After “Give me Liberty, or Give me Death,” what more is there to debate?
What remains is to organize.
These are the times that try men’s souls: The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value.” Thomas Paine, The Crisis
That is a very astute observation. The principles of freedom and liberty are timeless, aren't they? All we hear from liberals is "we just need to give communism a chance -- the last guys didn't do it right".
bmp
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