Right now it seems there are only two types of Americans standing up and fighting for freedom and liberty anymore. True Patriots... and those brave individuals in the Military.
Since September 11, 2001... Patriotism has become a religion for me. Love for my country, the ideals of the founding fathers, the history of how far we as a nation have come... in the name of liberty for all... the great experiment has gone through some very dark days only to emerge a stronger nation collectively.
Some argue that all rights should have been given to all people from the get-go... but i believe that's a naive mentality that suggests that during times so diametrically different than the times we live in today, as far as culture and ways and means... that we could have up and destroyed everything everyone knew at that time... over night. The world simply doesn't work that way. It took much toil, carnage, blood and pain to forge this nation at all... our tattered and ragtag bunch of militia and regular army stood against the greatest military force in the world at that time... and 25,000 warriors lost their lives... another 25,000 were wounded and maimed... and have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence?
-- Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died.
-- Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned.
-- Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured.
-- Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War.
They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. And what kind of men were they?
-- Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists.
-- Eleven were merchants.
-- Nine were farmers and large plantation owners.
Men of means, well educated, but they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured.
Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the
British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags.
Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward.
Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton.
At the battle of Yorktown , Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt.
Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months.
John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished.
And all of this blood and sacrifice was made in order that we as a new nation might have a chance to go forward and flourish... and perhaps someday work further on the rights for all. As we have done... time and time again. The black slaves were emancipated and set free... with the deaths of over 620,000 Americans... and the wounding and maiming of another 420,000. The men who gave their lives and limbs and spilled their blood to free the blacks from slavery were mostly white men. A fact people tend to forget these days.
And in the name of freedom and liberty around the world... America showed their might and sacrificed many in World War I, giving almost 120,000 men in the name of freedom... and World War II where we gave over 420,000 men in the name of freedom...
And today... we've got
4000 of our elite... the U.S. Marines stomping their way across Afghanistan... and we've
already lost one, God rest his soul, fighting the Islamic Fascists on their own turf... fighting for our freedom and our liberty from the Islamic hordes who wish every living American dead. And by the end of this year we will have 68,000 American troops stationed again in Afghanistan. Half of what we're bringing home from Iraq.
So, take a few minutes while you enjoy our nation's birthday... and pray for our nation... and our troops... and silently thank these patriots from the past who gave their lives and blood for our right to drink beer and shoot off fire-works. Freedom is Never Free!
Pray for our nation... and hope it's not taken too far down the darkened path we now seem to be on. For it should be known and said loudly... Patriotism is not a sin... and despite what our President thinks... America IS a force for good, and if we are brought down to the level of the Banana Republics run by smiling dictators... there will be no more shining beacon on the hill for people to come to. We will be no longer be the exceptional nation created 233 years ago.
My fellow Patriots... pray for our nation... for we shall overcome.
(Thanks too my uncle Mike States for an email which contained a few of the facts used, and inspired me to speak up to day on our holy-Patriotic day)