Heroes

To Our Fallen

War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and ...has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself.
--John Stewart Mill--

Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death...Timeless

Are there any leaders like this in our congress today? Patrick Henry didn't have a teleprompter to walk him through this either.

Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death

Patrick Henry, March 23, 1775.

No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the House. But different men often see the same subject in different lights; and, therefore, I hope it will not be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen if, entertaining as I do 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 questing 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 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.

Mr. President, 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. 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 may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it.
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 the British ministry for the last ten years to justify those hopes with which gentlemen have been pleased to solace themselves and the House. Is it that insidious smile with which our petition has been lately received? Trust it not, sir; it will prove a snare to your feet. Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss. Ask yourselves how this gracious reception of our petition comports with those warlike preparations which cover our waters and darken our land. Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation? Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled that force must be called in to win back our love? Let us not deceive ourselves, sir. These are the implements of war and subjugation; the last arguments to which kings resort. I ask gentlemen, sir, what means this martial array, if its purpose be not to force us to submission? Can gentlemen assign any other possible motive for it? Has Great Britain any enemy, in this quarter of the world, to call for all this accumulation of navies and armies? No, sir, she has none. They are meant for us: they can be meant for no other. They are sent over to bind and rivet upon us those chains which the British ministry have been so long forging. And what have we to oppose to 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 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! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of hosts is all that is left us!

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. Besides, sir, 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, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. 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 on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable--and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come.
It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace-- but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! 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!

Remove Charles Rangel From Office New York!!! All Military read!!

I started working on an article earlier this morning about Representative Charles Rangel and his attempt to throw the race card into the healthcare reform debate. In researching past quotes of Charles Rangel, I came across a quote of his which makes me want to immediately fly to New York or Washington DC, wherever this uneducated toolbag is at, and confront him about it. The quote reads:


“Meanwhile, our young men and women whose economic circumstances make military service a viable career choice are dying bravely in a war with no end in sight.”


For those who do not know me already, I am a United States Marine. I have been a United States Marine for over 15 years. I say that not to receive accolades or “thank you’s” from anyone. I did not join the military due to some “economic circumstance” which, according to your wording, made me settle for such a second-rate career.


As I try to respond to this I am so flooded with anger and disbelief that I can’t even properly put my thoughts together. This is an elected official representing the United States of America!! The same United States that successfully defeated a far superior, better funded, British Army to gain their independence. The same United States that fought to defeat Hitler and the Nazis in Europe. The same United States that maintains the best trained, most powerful, most educated ALL VOLUNTEER fighting force this world has ever been witness to!!


New York allows this man…this weak, ill informed, uneducated, hate-mongoring, instigating coward to represent to represent them??? Either he should be removed from New York or the Statue of Liberty should be moved from New York to a State which is accurately represented by what she stands for!!


Let me give you a bit of education Mr. Rangel, scratch that…I don’t have enought respect to call you Mr. Rangel, Chuck.


I have served my country honorably, as so many other military members have in the past, the present, and will continue to well into the future. There are many reasons I joined the Marine Corps Chuck. Let me introduce a few new words to your vocabulary, which you obviously have little knowledge regarding:


LIBERTY- It is freedom at the center of why people join the military, Chuck. Sure some are attracted by other things as well, but the vast majority of the military is filled with freedom loving Americans who want to perform a job each day that they can be proud of. As hard as it is for me to admit this, I am proud to defend your right to say and act as you please, as ignorant as you may be, you are free to do it.


PATRIOTIC- I am as patriotic as they come. I still get a little choked up at times when I see our nations flag and hear our national anthem before a sporting event. I feel so strongly about liberty and our constitution that I want to do my part to preserve what we have in this great nation


HONOR- There is no more honorable act a man or woman can do in this country than to volunteer to defend the rights and liberties of the citizens of this country. There is an honor those of us who serve get to experience that others do not.


FREEDOM- We believe in freedom so strongly that we are willing to lay our lives down in order to preserve it. I understand that this type of dedication is certainly foreign to you, Chuck.


Liberty, Patriotism, Honor, Freedom!!! This country does not oppress it’s inhabitants to the point that they are forced to join the military, Chuck. You would love to think that true though, wouldn’t you Chuck? That would allow you to preach your hateful words and split this nation along racial lines. After all, that’s all you have to keep you in office, isn’t it Chuck? If you didn’t have the race card to play everyday, and the curtains were opened to reveal any real substance or qualifications you have to perform the job title you have, this nation and the State of New York would find you sorely lacking!


Liberty, Patriotism, Honor, Freedom!!! These are words which are like a foreign language to you. After all, these terms aren’t regularly mentioned when discussing the investigations by two House sub-committees into your personal finances and fund-raising, which have revealed that you failed to report hundreds of thousands of dollars in income. Not a lot of honor going on in that, is there Chuck?


New York, please do this nation and yourselves a favor and remove this undeserving cretin from office, and relocate him, preferably to a prison cell.