Today is a very special day in the history of our country. Indeed if it had not been for April 19, 1775, America would not exist!!! We would have grown up with a King who made the laws that we would have to live under whether we liked them or not. There would be no elections to choose new leaders when we're sick of the ones who have NOT represented us but lined their pockets at our expense!
I have learned so much about all of this by attending numerous Appleseed shoots over the past 9 years. Project Appleseed is an amazing program that teaches marksmanship AND love of country! One of our former shoot bosses just shared on Facebook that this is America's true birthday. If it hadn't been for the colonists standing up to an evil king, where would we be today?? That's what I would have you ponder.
If there are any readers here from countries that aren't free, I share to inspire you as I have been inspired. You see, that shoot boss I just mentioned came here to our farm about 5 years ago and helped run the shoot. There are constant safety concerns at an Appleseed shoot and lots of Instructor's eyes are needed to make sure that "You leave with the same number of holes you came with," as shoot bosses like to say!!
Well, this particular shoot boss flew up here from Georgia not only to help with that shoot but to inspire us Americans to be proud to be Americans again. We have an amazing heritage of patriotism that has been stolen from us. Shoot boss Steve ended that shoot in a fashion that I'll never forget!
Steve recited Patrick Henry's speech from memory. No, I don't mean just the "Give me liberty or give me death," part but ALL OF IT!!!!!!!!!!! I'm including it for you below so you can imagine how we were inspired! Many of us were crying and I was tingling as the passion in Steve's heart flowed out through his words. It was as if Patrick Henry himself were with us--inspiring us to love our country and to fight for freedom like never before!!
Before I share those life-changing words, I want to take the opportunity to dare every reader to do something for freedom every day. Even if you just smile in the face of persecution, you are fighting for freedom! Me, as someone crippled with MS can write to my legislators to demand that they sign bills into law which protect my freedoms. I can sit on the firing line to keep perfecting my shooting skills. I can urge others to do the same! We ALL can keep America/freedom alive in our own little ways if we will only try!!
You can start by attending an Appleseed shoot--you will never again be a whiny little moper like I used to be! You will pick yourself up, no matter how you're feeling, and do something to help protect our country from destruction from all of the lazy, selfish, wimps who just want to mooch off of our labors!!!! Check out the website and be a part of the group of winners who are really helping to make America great again!!!
www.appleseedinfo.org
So I close with the words of Patrick Henry to the President of the Virginia convention as they pondered preparing for war or continuing to trust that the King would change his mind and welcome their freedom. I pray that these words will forever penetrate every soul who reads them as they have mine!
I love you, America, and I always will!! You're the greatest bastion of freedom ever! You have welcomed ALL who came to our country legally and became citizens no matter how long that process took. I love you, America, for the opportunity you give to ANYONE to work hard and make something of themselves! I love you most of all, America, for granting your citizens rights that no other nation has ever given to it's people!!!! May you live forever!!!!
May these words stir up love in you for your country once again, or maybe, for the first time ever!
St. John's Church, Richmond, Virginia
No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the House. But different men often see the same subject in different lights; and, therefore, I hope it will not be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen if, entertaining as I do, opinions of a character very opposite to theirs, I shall speak forth my sentiments freely, and without reserve.
This is no time for ceremony. The question before the House is one of awful moment to this country. For my own part, I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery; and in proportion to the magnitude of the subject ought to be the freedom of the debate. It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfil the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country. Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offence, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the majesty of heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings.
Mr. President, 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.
I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided; and that is the lamp of experience. I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past. And judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of the British ministry for the last ten years, to justify those hopes with which gentlemen have been pleased to solace themselves, and the House?
Is it that insidious smile with which our petition has been lately received? Trust it not, sir; it will prove a snare to your feet. Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss. Ask yourselves how this gracious reception of our petition comports with these war-like preparations which cover our waters and darken our land.
Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation? Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled, that force must be called in to win back our love? Let us not deceive ourselves, sir. These are the implements of war and subjugation; the last arguments to which kings resort.
I ask, gentlemen, sir, what means this martial array, if its purpose be not to force us to submission? Can gentlemen assign any other possible motive for it? Has Great Britain any enemy, in this quarter of the world, to call for all this accumulation of navies and armies?
They are meant for us; they can be meant for no other. They are sent over to bind and rivet upon us those chains which the British ministry have been so long forging.
And what have we to oppose to them? Shall we try argument? Sir, we have been trying that for the last ten years. Have we anything new to offer upon the subject? Nothing. We have held the subject up in every light of which it is capable; but it has been all in vain.
Shall we resort to entreaty and humble supplication? What terms shall we find which have not been already exhausted?
Let us not, I beseech you, sir, deceive ourselves.
Sir, we have done everything that could be done, to avert the storm which is now coming on. We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the throne, and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and Parliament.
Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne. In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation.
There is no longer any room for hope.
If we wish to be free² if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending²if we mean not basely to 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, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of Hosts is all that is left us!
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, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house?
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 hath 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.
Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations; and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. 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 inevitable²and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come.
It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter.
Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace²but 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?
Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?
I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!
Source: Wirt, William. Sketches of the Life and Character of Patrick Henry . (Philadelphia) 1836, as reproduced in The World's Great Speeches, Lewis Copeland and Lawrence W. Lamm, eds., (New York) 1973.
