What Would Patrick Henrys Famous "Liberty or Death" Speech Sound Like Today?

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What Would Patrick Henrys Famous "Liberty or Death" Speech Sound Like Today?

Posted By: Lion [Send E-Mail]
Date: Sunday, 8-Jan-2012 17:44:25

------------- Reader WJ Sends: Laughing In The Face Of G.... I`d like to add.. Resistance to tyranny is service to God -James Madison If ye love wealth greater than Liberty, the tranquility of servitude greater than the animating contest for Freedom, go from us in peace. We seek not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains set lightly upon you; and may posterity forget that ye were our Countrymen. -Samuel Adams http://www.americanrevival.org/quotes/forefathers.htm -------------- Patrick Henrys Speech in Todays Terms Souirce: Altmarket http://www.alt-market.com/articles/484-laughing-in-the-face-of-goliath-the-virtue-of-fighting-back Written by Patrick Henrys Ghost Patrick Henry’s Ghost January 5, 2012 No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism. But different men often see the same subject in different lights; and, therefore, I hope it will not be thought disrespectful to those men if, entertaining as I do, offer opinions of a character very opposite to theirs, I shall speak forth my sentiments freely and without reserve. This is no time for ceremony. The question before Americans 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 fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country. Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, 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. America, it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope and change. 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. We have allowed ourselves to become woefully ill prepared for calamities of life. Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Is it our fate 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 may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it. Awareness of your situation allows you to be prepared for those calamities. I fear a storm of immense calamity has fallen upon this Republic. I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience. I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past. And judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of Presidents and Congress for the last ten years to justify those hopes with which Americans have been pleased to comfort themselves. Is it that insidious smile with which President Obama states “reservations” while signing the National Defense Authorization Act into law? Trust it not; it will prove a snare to your feet! Do be betrayed with a kiss. Ask yourselves how a signing statement compares with those warlike preparations that darken our land. I threat of detainment by the army necessary to a work of love and reconciliation? Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled with our own Constitution that force must be called in to win back our love? Let us not deceive ourselves! These are the implements of war and subjugation; the last arguments to which a tyrants resort! Now the Senate has before it Senate Bill 1698 that will allow the stripping away of your citizenship should you be found in hostilities toward the United States Government. Why have we allowed our elected defenders of Liberty to lay such treasonous traps before the American people? I ask Patriots, what does this law mean, if its purpose is not to force us to submission and silence? Can anyone assign any other possible motive for it? What purpose does it serve but to destroy the very tenants of our constitution? There are none! They are meant for us: they can be meant for no other. They are to bind and rivet upon us those chains which those we have elected to represent us have been so long forging. And what have we to oppose to them? Shall we try argument? 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 pleading and begging? What terms shall we find which have not been already exhausted? Let us not, I plead with you, deceive ourselves. America, we have done everything that could be done to avert the storm which is now coming on. We have petitioned; have we not protested; we have ask with respect; we have bowed ourselves before the Presidents and Congress, Our petitions to uphold the rule of law have been rejected while our constitution is continually trampled by those that would enslave and detain us. Our petitions have been slighted; our protests have produced additional violence and insult; our humble requests have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the very ones that we have given charge to protect our liberties! 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 free– if we mean to preserve our Constitutional rights for which we have been so long contending – we must fight! I repeat it, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of hosts is all that is left us! They tell us, 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, or when our military shall search every home and person or be stationed in every house? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying on our backs and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until they have bound us hand and foot and placed us in Detention camps? Patriots, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. The hundreds of 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 those that wish for tyranny can send against us. No armed citizenry can be defeated by any standing army. Besides, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, we have no election without corporate media propaganda and unaccountable electronic voting machines. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard from lovers of liberty across the country! The war is inevitable--and let it come! I repeat it, let it come. It is in vain, sir, to continue in the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace-- but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The passage of the Nation Detention Provision all but has assured war with Patriots and lovers of liberty. The next gale that sweeps from Washington and the corrupt Central bankers will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Why are we not already in the field! Why are you standing here idle? What is it that we wish? What would they have? Our life, our submission, our silence, our guns, our very liberty that we hold dear! 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!