Posted on 09/26/2013 2:27:31 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
The movie Braveheart stands as one of the classics of all time. Embodying the courage of William Wallace in his fight to overturn English rule over Scotland, the movie is a testimony to the power of an individual who is willing to risk it all for freedom.
In honor of those like Representative Tom Graves (R-Ga.), and Senators Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah), who are battling both their own leaders (the Scottish noblemen) who fear for their position, as well as Obama and Harry Reid (the English), a few of the key lines from brilliantly written Braveheart are published below. Note while William Wallace was a historic figure, the lines come from the brilliant mind of screenwriter, Randall Wallace.
The first rule of the “noblemen” is explained in brutal honesty – survival. Never pick a fight where the battle must be joined with winners and losers, but instead find the middle where you can benefit the most.
Robert the Bruce’s Father: [the elder man stops laughing] It is time… to *survive*. You’re the seventeenth Robert Bruce. The sixteen before you passed you land and title because they *didn’t* charge in. Call a meeting of the nobles.
Robert the Bruce: But, they do nothing but talk.
Robert’s Father: Rightly so. They’re as rich in English titles and lands as they are in Scottish, just as we are. You admire this man, this William Wallace. Uncompromising men are easy to admire. He has courage; so does a dog. But it is exactly the ability to *compromise* that makes a man noble. And understand this: Edward Longshanks is the most ruthless king ever to sit on the throne of England. And none of us, and nothing of Scotland will remain, unless *we* are as ruthless. Give ear to our nobles. Knowing their minds is the key to the throne.
Mel Gibson’s William Wallace succinctly defines the difference between the nobles and those who are willing to fight.
William Wallace to the nobles: There’s a difference between us. You think the people of this country exist to provide you with position. I think your position exists to provide those people with freedom. And I go to make sure that they have it.
The nobles discover that their army/grassroots is unwilling to fight for them any longer.
William Wallace to the nobles: And if this is your army, why does it go?
Veteran: We didn’t come here to fight for them!
Also, William Wallace explains the place of the nobles to Robert the Bruce who he admires.
Robert the Bruce: I’m not a coward. I want what you want, but we need the nobles.
William Wallace: We need them?
Robert the Bruce: Aye.
William Wallace: Nobles.
William Wallace: Now tell me, what does that mean to be noble? Your title gives you claim to the throne of our country, but men don’t follow titles, they follow courage. Now our people know you. Noble, and common, they respect you. And if you would just lead them to freedom, they’d follow you. And so would I.
William Wallace seeks to encourage Robert the Bruce to join the fight even though the odds against winning seem overwhelming.
Robert the Bruce: Now, you’ve achieved more than anyone ever dreamed. But, fighting these odds, it looks like rage, not courage.
William Wallace: It’s well beyond rage. Help me. In the name of Christ, help yourselves. Now is our chance. Now. If we join, we can win. If we win, well then we’ll have what none of us has ever had before: a country of our own.
Looking into the face of a well-armed enemy, who they have been told cannot be beaten, the grassroots begin to become faint of heart.
Young Soldier: Home! The English are too many!
…William Wallace: I *am* William Wallace! And I see a whole army of my countrymen, here in defiance of tyranny. You’ve come to fight as free men… and free men you are. What will you do with that freedom? Will you fight?
Veteran: Fight? Against that? No! We will run. And we will live.
William Wallace: Aye, fight and you may die. Run, and you’ll live… at least a while. And dying in your beds, many years from now, would you be willin’ to trade ALL the days, from this day to that, for one chance, just one chance, to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they’ll never take… OUR FREEDOM!
I bet you thought this speech delivered riding on horseback back and forth in front of the army was longer.
Robert the Bruce ends up betraying William Wallace and all he stood for, but in his overwhelming regret he seeks redemption.
Robert the Bruce: I have nothing. Men fight for me because if they do not, I throw them off my land and I starve their wives and children. Those men who bled the ground red at Falkirk fought for William Wallace. He fights for something that I never had. And I took it from him when I betrayed him. I saw it in his face on the battlefield and it’s tearing me apart.
Robert’s Father: All men betray. All lose heart.
Robert the Bruce: I don’t want to lose heart! I want to believe as he does… I will never be on the wrong side again.
There is a nobility in fighting the impossible battle, and sometimes you even win. History is replete with heroes who risked everything to lead their people to freedom. Some names, like William Wallace and George Washington, we know. Most history has forgotten.
But the most important point for those who are fighting this political battle over Obamacare and the direction of our nation need to remember is that no one remembers the names of the nobles who compromise freedom for their own little piece of grass.
No one respects the ‘leader’ who declares the battle lost before a single person has seen the field.
And no one follows the self-important who have forgotten the very trust that they were given and the people who provided it.
William Wallace was turned over to King Edward Longshanks and tortured in the hope he would disavow the rebellion. With his last breath yelling “FREEDOM” for all to hear – a truly noble man.
Hollywood’s heroes, like William Wallace, resonate because deep down people want leaders who fearlessly strive for what they believe, and not noblemen who are noble in name only. The people want larger than life figures who will fight for them. And ultimately, they want leaders they can trust so they can live their lives, raise their children and enjoy their limited time on this green earth free from worry about an avaricious government.
Today’s noblemen of D.C. face choices in these upcoming weeks that will stay with them for a lifetime. Obamacare will either be implemented or it will be gutted.
While some may take the Braveheart analogy as too simplistic, it will be impossible to explain the nuances of the day to someone a few years from now unable to access health care because of the Obamacare doctor shortage.
Now is when the decision is made and there will be no turning back. It is time for Republicans to choose whether they will claim their historic legacy as our nation’s freedom party, or if they will recede into the history books replaced by those who are willing to take the mantle of freedom fighter from them.
I pray for courage for them, so they don’t run from this historic battle for our nation’s future.
RINOS have joined hands with the Left to discredit him, to defeat him and cling to power.
They have been exposed and their actions and words are out there for all to see and remember.
Another commentary:
Ted Cruz: A Leader Young People Will Follow "............Young people are paying attention today because they finally see, in Mr. Cruz, someone who understand the peril our republic faces and is willing to do whatever he can to reverse course. In Cruz, they see a man driven by principle....................."
Great movie. One of my all time favorites (along with Outlaw Josey Wales).
Great movie. But what the GOPe “leadership” really needs to do is retire. Or get PRIMARIED.
Be sure to read the author’s commentary at the end of the movie quotes.
A documentary on the Revolutionary War would better serve these princesses.
BTTT
NO one cracks those books and "teachers" see to it they are never opened.
OK ... put away your notebooks and let's discuss tomorrows celebration of Ramadan ... Janey ... do you still have the burqa your mother made for you last year ?
That’s true. Fortunately, liberty is like life, there’s no way to stop it. The control freaks will lose.
It appears the repube leadership has been watching “ The Thrill Of The Pantywaist” instead.
(Title credit to a very old National Lampoon mag)
Great Posting!!! And...I agree with both of of you.....”Braveheart & The Outlaw Josey Wales” were absolutely fantastic stories about freedom, love of brothers, indiviual liberty, determination, focus, leadership and success!!! They both study and confirm the power of the indivdual over the collective, every time. And.....Mel Gibson & Clint Eastwood were perfect in every aspect of their magnificent acting in these two, all time great movies!!!! I have watched them many times, learning sonething new each time!!!
There is a very tiny, telling part about brotherhood & love of country in “Josey Wales” When Josey rides up to Granny Hawkins little general store and asks for some food, medicine and wound dressings for Josey’s wounded companion. Granny gets the goodies, comes back out of her store, and tosses the bag loaded with the goodies Josey requested to Josey. Josey catches the bag, and moves to pay Granny. Granny, replies quckly with “Ya can pay me when ya see me again, Josey Wales” and she stick her pipe back in her mouth and walks back into her store!!! You could see the love in her eyes, for the lone, on-the-run, “outlaw” Josey Wales, The lone single man fighting against all odds for his freedom, liberty and opportunity. Awesome!!!
And,,,,,as a side bar....it also would be awesome if you good folks, by the thousands, no by the millions went online and sign/endorse the Lee/Cruz “Defund Obamacare” Petition at WWW.DONTFUNDOBAMACARE.COM as both. a way to thank Ted Cruz, etc. for his outstanding efforts to arouse the nation to the destructive impact that Obamacare will bring forth and to let him know that, We, The People have his back 100%, no matter what the pundits, the media, the useless politicians in both parties have to say!!! Do it.....TODAY!!!
(WWW.DONTFUNDOBAMACARE.COM)
They wouldn’t understand it, they would despise it and they would reason that negotiation and surrender was the most “prudent path”. How can a leadership lead those that they hate?
Please help me. I’ve been trying to understand something that is the key to what Cruz is asking of his fellow republicans...and even democrats if they are being honest...
I keep hearing these RINO republicans, one on Hannity radio yesterday, saying that he would vote for cloture on Friday because he doesn’t “want the GOP blamed for a govt shutdown”. Explain to me the reality here.
If 25 % of republicans unite cloture doesn’t pass...then what happens? I fail to understand Cruz’s logic. How do we gain leverage? How do you force Harry Reid to put the original House Bill up for a vote? Do you specify that in the cloture vote, that voting for cloture is a vote to then vote on the original House bill?
If this is true....then why not block Reid and do what Cruz says. Let the govt shut down because Reid and Obama would be shutting it down. The people want Obamacare defunded...then this is the way to do it.
Then on the other hand...the House bill if voted on as it is, will certainly fail to pass...so then what? Eventually Reid will send a billback to the House with the defund Obamacare part. No matter how you carve this...the true fight will be in the House.
Tell me where I am wrong here.
Ok... I found my answer...
The Senate procedure is complicated but, in essence, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will be attempting to stuff Democratic amendments into the continuing resolution that funds government without Obamacare. One of these amendments will call for restoring funding and Reid will move for cloture to end debate. If Republicans allow this, they are allowing the restoration of funding for Obamacare. Of course, “leaders” will pretend that they fought the good fight, but that the majority won out. That’s what passes for leadership these days.
Sen. Ted Cruz has been rallying support for his promise to do everything he can to block Obamacare. If McConnell can deliver the necessary 41 Republican votes, Sen. Cruz can filibuster the continuing resolution until Reid plays by the rules and allows for the 60-vote threshold necessary to pass the House’s resolution.
The McCains and Graham’s may be leaders in title and in the media, but they are not leaders in fact, and that can be shown by the armies they are able to bring with them to the cause. Sarah Palin and Ted Cruz are ten times the leaders those men will ever be.
A man, driven by principle is the most dangerous of our kind.
A man driven by principles that are honorable will not be turned.
Freedom is from God and God put freedom in our blood.
Now you know why your blood boils, as they use to say..
You see freedom slowly being taken from a country born of God for the freedom of man and as a shinning light to the world.
Stand up...and fight those that would dim the brightness of freedoms light that has been kept alive, and given to you by blood shed.
Another movie line: “Honor is the gift a man gives himself.”
Whether you believe that, or that ‘Honor is a fool’s prize’ depends, I suppose, upon whether you agree with Robert Roy McGregor or Archibald Cunningham.
So where do you stand, FRiends? With Ted Cruz and America, or the GOP-e and their Democrat b****** allies, Reid, Pelosi, Obama, et al?
Damn I really wish people would understand the republican leadership, they are no different then the democrat leadership, they speak the same lingo and want the same goals. They do not cave to the democrats because they are socialist.fascists too.
Hi nikos, I hope you are well.
I think you are correct. I’ve been maintaining since the House passed the CR last Friday, that Cruz and Lee put the Dems in a box canyon. Apparently GOPe doesn’t see the brilliance of the strategy.
There are two, separate decisions. First, whether to allow cloture. Second, and independent of the first, is support for the CR. If there is unwavering support against cloture, there can be no amendments, and hence Reid will be making the decision to allow a vote on the CR. No vote on the CR puts the ignominy of a shutdown on Reid.
I am continually stunned at the “marriage” of both issues by RINOs. McConnell and his ilk are saying they will vote for cloture because they want to vote to defund Obamacare. Voting appears to be more important than the substance of what will be voted upon.
Lee and Cruz, and other unidentified others have constructed a box canyon for the Dems. The Establishment can not see the brilliance of the “shaping the battlefield.” They, in the words of one of my favorite former judge, are inflicting wounds upon themselves - and have the vituperous audacity to complain about their wounds.
The CR was an outstanding box constructed by Lee and Cruz. GOPe is doing their best to war with the prevailing strategy. It is my hope, and prayer, that sensible heads will prevail in the Senate. Further, if they don’t, I hope, and pray, that the House and it’s leadership, will not make any changes to the CR. It’s time for Americans to know who is with them, and who will frag them when the true leaders are charging forward.
Gwjack
If you like Braveheart, then you’ll love the book “Born Fighting” by former US Sen. Jim Webb (D)VA. Albeit a one termer, he is an excellent writer. Much research went into this book. It defines the era of Braveheart and follows the Scot-Irish blood to the US. Explaining the hate for the English, and the leadership qualities of this bloodline.
I’ve read all of Webb’s books and can’t figure why he ever became a (D). I hope it was to research the total corruption of the Harry Reid Senate. I’m waiting anxiously for his next book. He write like a good conservative and would fit well into the Libertarian Party
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