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I posted this on Stopping Power and thought it would be appropriate here too.

Thomas Paine, in "The Crisis" published December 23, 1776 said: "THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated."

My friends I submit that the situation in the United States today is no different than in 1776. We are at a crossroads that making the wrong choice will be the beginning of the end of our nation and life as we know it. Over the last 232 years we have survived numerous attempts to terminate this grand experiment of ours by foreign forces and survived a Civil War. Now it appears apathy and complacency will do what the force of arms couldn't.

Independence day has become a time for back yard barbecues, sales at the malls, and lip service to patriotism. I say it is the time for all to take deep look into their souls and decide are you going to take the easy path and follow like sheep or choose the harder path to restore our nation's legacy.

Happy Birthday America! I pledge to do my all to restore your greatness.


edit:
By the way, Paine didn't say "heck" he was referring to the devils lair. The cuss-o-meter changed the word. Ain't technology grand?

While celebrating Independence Day:
- Be sure to wear your seatbelt, or you'll get a ticket.
- Make sure your permission-to-travel papers are in order (vehicle registration, driver's license, insurance). Without these things you can be arrested and your vehicle seized.
- In Harris County, don't drive down a section of Houston-annexed highway while in possession of fireworks; if caught, you will be fined $500-2,000, no matter that you were going from the fireworks stand to your home in Katy, where the fireworks are perfectly legal.
- Same goes for Travis County and Austin, Bowie County and Texarkana, and any number of other cities.
- Any 20 year old Iraq war veteran who enjoys a cold beer on a sweltering holiday afternoon should expect to be punished under zero tolerance laws.
- Reflect on the fact that of all the income you earned the first six months of the year, only the last two months' income was yours; the first four months belonged to the government.
- When you fill up for your holiday drive, you might note that you're paying over $0.43 per gallon in taxes. The Founding Fathers staged a revolt when tea was taxed 3 pence per pound.
- The first shots fired in the Revolution were over an attempt to seize guns and powder.

Happy Independence Day!

Also, our Supreme Court has just recently ruled on the second amendment affirming the individual right to keep and bear arms. The BOR was ratified in 1791.

There exists over 21,000 laws on the books that infringe directly on our right.

232 years after we declared independence.

Anygunanywhere

In spite of her problems, America is still the greatest country on the face of the earth, founded on principles that make men stretch, and thus better themselves, in order to reach.

We can do the "yes, but...." the other 364 days of the year.

Today, I'm just celebrating the fact that I'm an American!

quidni wrote:In spite of her problems, America is still the greatest country on the face of the earth, founded on principles that make men stretch, and thus better themselves, in order to reach.

We can do the "yes, but...." the other 364 days of the year.

Today, I'm just celebrating the fact that I'm an American!

Today's the only day I say I'm an American, every other day I'm a Texan!