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.[snip]
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, ...
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 has placed in our power. Three 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.[snip]
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!
Patrick Henry, 1775
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, ...
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 has placed in our power. Three 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.[snip]
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!
Patrick Henry, 1775
Would that we as a nation had the testicular fortitude to speak and MEAN these words today.
Lone
2/75th Rgr Bn.
The irony is that the peace-criers will have purchased their own peace with the lives of others and, ignorant of their shackles, will revel in their slavery.
The longer that I live, the more convinced I become of the merits of Heinlein's idea of a two-teired citizenship. Those who choose some form of National Service get to vote, hold elected office, and apply for government jobs. Those who choose not to serve in some manner forgo those opportunities.
It had always seemed to me that the many blessings bestowed upon us as citizens of this great nation also requiore of us some sort of sacrifice, some form of recognition of the debt by which they were obtained. Those who would not take upon themselves the mantle of service, of responsibility for the protection and maintainance of those same liberties, by their own inaction cheapen the meaning and sacrifice of those who have done so.
respects,
#1. What is National Service and What is not National Service? Reason- As we live in this new world of terrorism, where do the "first responders" fit into this "two-tiered citizenship model?" I realize this is done on the local level in most circumstances. But they play a critical role in the Homeland Security paradigm. This is the reason for the question.
#2. To me, this appears to simply be an oversight, but I can't ASS-U-ME it. Can a duly elected individual APPOINT someone to office WITHOUT National Service? Comment- In my view, the answer is NO. If the answer is yes, this would give a way to circumvent the whole concept. As we all know, most of the actual research is done by staff, then signed off on by the elected official.
Tim, enjoy your 4th of July, Thank you for your consideration,
Grumpy