LIBERTY OR DEATH

To my Fellow Countrymen:  No person thinks more highly than I do about the ability and tenacity of the great people in this Country.  But different people often see the same subject in different lights; and, therefore, I hope it will not bee seen as politically incorrect if I share my view on the state of things and speak freely and without reserve.  This is no time for partisanship.  The reality facing this country is sobering.  For me, I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery; and in proportion to the magnitude of the subject should 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 ourselves and each other.  Should I hold back my opinions now, through fear of offending, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards free people, and an act of disloyalty toward the majesty of liberty, which I revere above all earthly rulers.

Fellow Free People, it is natural to indulge in the illusions of hope.  We are prone to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the spin of media until they transform us into beasts.  Is this what wise people engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty would do?  Are we so inclined to look the other way when our freedom is at stake? For me, whatever anguish it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and and to speak about it.

Patrick Henry

I have but one metric by which my efforts are guided; and that is the metric of experience.  I know of no way to judge the future but by the past.  And judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been in the effort of Government for the last ten years, to justify the apathy and inaction to which be have all become accustomed.  Is that the corrupt sense of safety to which the light of liberty has been relegated?  Do not cower to tyranny; it will deliver us all to ruin.  Do not deceive yourselves with the false security which government offers.  Ask yourselves how this gracious reception of tyranny reconciles with the war-like preparations which are in every facet of our nation.  Are militarized police, and government agents necessary to a work of peace and liberty?  Have we shown ourselves to be so undeserving to be trusted with our own security, that force must be called in to win back our liberty? Let us not deceive ourselves.  These are the implements of tyranny and subjugation; the last arguments to which Governments resort.  I ask, people, what warrants this warlike occupation, if its purpose is not to force us into submission?  Can anyone assign any other possible motive for it?  Has the government any enemy, in this part of the world, to call for all this accumulation of militant police and implements of war?  No, they have none.  They are meant for us; they can be meant for no other.  They are implemented to bind and attach to us those chains which governments have been so long forging.  And what have we to oppose to them?  Should we try protests?  We have been trying that for the last ten years.  Is there anything more to add upon the subject? Nothing.  We have held the subject up to scrutiny in every way imaginable; but it has all been in vain.  Should we appeal and resort to begging?  What methods could we use which have not already been ignored?  Let us not, I ask you, deceive ourselves.  We have done everything that could be done, to avert the storm which is now coming on.  We have petitioned; we have protested; we have asked our representatives; we have begged government, and have asked them to expose tyranny and bring to justice those in power that corrupt the noble cause of Liberty.  Our petitions have been mocked; our protests produced additional violence and insult; our representatives have disregarded our requests; and we have been turned away, with contempt, from the halls of Government.  In vain, after these efforts, we may indulge in the empty hope of peace and reconciliation.  There is no longer any room for hope.  If we wish to be free, if we mean to preserve the sacred invaluable rights which we have been contending so long for, if we mean not to inadvertently 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, we must fight!  An appeal to arms and to swift resolution is all that is left for us!

They tell us that we are weak; unable to cope with such a formidable adversary.  But when will we be stronger?  Will it be this week, or next year?  Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a government guard shall be stationed on every corner?  Shall we gather strength by hesitation and inaction?  Will we gather the means of effective resistance, by sitting on the couch, and pursuing the deceptive phantom of hope, until tyranny shall have us bound hand and foot?  People, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which Freedom have placed in our power.  Three million people are invincible by an force which tyranny can send against us.  Besides, we will not fight out battles alone.  There is the justice that truth and reason provide; and will raise up friends to help us fight our battles.  The battle, folks, is not for only the strong; it is for the vigilant, the active, the brave.  Besides, we have no choice.  If we were stupid enough to desire it, it is too late to walk away.  There is no retreat but in submission and slavery!  Our chains are made!  Their noise may be heard in every corner of the Nation!  Resistance is inevitable, and let it come!  Let it come!

To prolong the matter would be in vain.  People may cry, Peace, Peace, but there is no peace.  The war has already begun!  The next viral campaign that we hear about will be that of resistance!  Our best are already arming themselves!  Why do we sit idly by?  What do we wish?  What do we want?  Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?  Forbid it one and all!!  I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!