Osborn F. Enready
07-04-2008, 05:20 PM
http://www.ideastations.org/liberty/
When England taxed the American colonies to pay for the French and Indian war, the colonies became enraged and ardently resisted. What was at stake was the right of the colonists to govern and tax themselves versus the Britain’s absolute authority over its empire.
In Virginia, Patrick Henry brought this issue to the forefront. His impassioned and eloquent speeches against British Parliament and the Stamp Act rattled complacent gentry, stirred others to the cause and resonated throughout the colonies.
In the 1775 Virginia Convention at St. John’s Church, Henry again caused an uproar when he called to arm a militia to defend against an increasingly authoritative England. Henry predicted that “the next gale that blows from the North will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms.” Less than three weeks later shots were fired at Lexington and Concorde and the revolution had begun.
In the same speech Patrick Henry declared, “…is life so dear or peace so sweet 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!”
Henry’s immortal words spread throughout the colonies and became a rallying cry for revolution.
Today, Patrick Henry’s Liberty or Death speech is one our nation’s most legendary speeches. It is in the same league as Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and Martin Luther King’s I have a Dream speech.
Links to the Liberty or Death educational special on Public Television:
http://www.ideastations.org/liberty/
links to 1949 recording of Douglas Southall Freeman delivering Liberty or Death Speech:
http://www.ideastations.org/liberty/audio.html
This was a superb hour of television, and I think it will remind, or teach for the first time to many, the reasons we made a stand against tyranny and decided to take arms in the never ending fight to gain and keep individual liberty...... a message that many could benefit from learning all over again in this age of abuse of government force for partisan benefit, while the people suffer.
I feel Patrick Henry's "Liberty or Death" speech was further underscored, and its message made clearer and easier to identify through the wise words of George Washington in his exquisitely written farewell speech from office after serving the nation as the first president.
http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/washing.htm
Take a few moments today, to remember why this nation is here and re-discover the passion for individual liberty, self-responsibility and the wonderful cause of self-government.
Some great links to help that exploration.....
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/charters.html
http://www.upress.virginia.edu/books/pgw_pres.html
http://www.saf.org/pub/rkba/general/FoundersQuotes.htm
http://www.theadvocates.org/library.html
http://www.isil.org/resources/lit/history-jury-null.html
http://freestateproject.org/
http://freestateblogs.net/
“It is my right to be uncommon...if I can; I seek opportunity...not security. I do not wish to be a kept citizen, humbled and dulled by having the state look after me. I want to take the calculated risk; to dream and to build, to fail and to succeed. I refuse to barter incentive for a dole. I prefer the challenges of life to the guaranteed existence; the thrill of fulfillment to the stole calm of utopia. I will not trade freedom for beneficence nor my dignity for a handout. I will never cower before any master nor bend to any threat. It is my heritage to stand erect, proud, and unafraid; to think and act for myself; enjoy the benefits of my creations and to face the world boldly and say, This I have done, and this is what it means to be an American.”
-Dean Alfrange
Happy Independence Day United States of America.... I hope you all enjoy and celebrate this day with a renewed sense of affection for our place in the world, and how we got here where we stand today.
:thumbsup:
When England taxed the American colonies to pay for the French and Indian war, the colonies became enraged and ardently resisted. What was at stake was the right of the colonists to govern and tax themselves versus the Britain’s absolute authority over its empire.
In Virginia, Patrick Henry brought this issue to the forefront. His impassioned and eloquent speeches against British Parliament and the Stamp Act rattled complacent gentry, stirred others to the cause and resonated throughout the colonies.
In the 1775 Virginia Convention at St. John’s Church, Henry again caused an uproar when he called to arm a militia to defend against an increasingly authoritative England. Henry predicted that “the next gale that blows from the North will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms.” Less than three weeks later shots were fired at Lexington and Concorde and the revolution had begun.
In the same speech Patrick Henry declared, “…is life so dear or peace so sweet 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!”
Henry’s immortal words spread throughout the colonies and became a rallying cry for revolution.
Today, Patrick Henry’s Liberty or Death speech is one our nation’s most legendary speeches. It is in the same league as Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and Martin Luther King’s I have a Dream speech.
Links to the Liberty or Death educational special on Public Television:
http://www.ideastations.org/liberty/
links to 1949 recording of Douglas Southall Freeman delivering Liberty or Death Speech:
http://www.ideastations.org/liberty/audio.html
This was a superb hour of television, and I think it will remind, or teach for the first time to many, the reasons we made a stand against tyranny and decided to take arms in the never ending fight to gain and keep individual liberty...... a message that many could benefit from learning all over again in this age of abuse of government force for partisan benefit, while the people suffer.
I feel Patrick Henry's "Liberty or Death" speech was further underscored, and its message made clearer and easier to identify through the wise words of George Washington in his exquisitely written farewell speech from office after serving the nation as the first president.
http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/washing.htm
Take a few moments today, to remember why this nation is here and re-discover the passion for individual liberty, self-responsibility and the wonderful cause of self-government.
Some great links to help that exploration.....
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/charters.html
http://www.upress.virginia.edu/books/pgw_pres.html
http://www.saf.org/pub/rkba/general/FoundersQuotes.htm
http://www.theadvocates.org/library.html
http://www.isil.org/resources/lit/history-jury-null.html
http://freestateproject.org/
http://freestateblogs.net/
“It is my right to be uncommon...if I can; I seek opportunity...not security. I do not wish to be a kept citizen, humbled and dulled by having the state look after me. I want to take the calculated risk; to dream and to build, to fail and to succeed. I refuse to barter incentive for a dole. I prefer the challenges of life to the guaranteed existence; the thrill of fulfillment to the stole calm of utopia. I will not trade freedom for beneficence nor my dignity for a handout. I will never cower before any master nor bend to any threat. It is my heritage to stand erect, proud, and unafraid; to think and act for myself; enjoy the benefits of my creations and to face the world boldly and say, This I have done, and this is what it means to be an American.”
-Dean Alfrange
Happy Independence Day United States of America.... I hope you all enjoy and celebrate this day with a renewed sense of affection for our place in the world, and how we got here where we stand today.
:thumbsup: