Posted on 06/27/2009 7:41:27 AM PDT by quesney
While reading the following news story:
http://uk.reuters.com/article/motoringAutoNews/idUKTRE5406CF20090501
----------------
I was reminded two very important quotes from John Adams about the American Revolution:
* As to the history of the revolution, my ideas may be peculiar, perhaps singular. What do we mean by the Revolution? The war? That was no part of the revolution; it was only an effect and consequence of it. The revolution was in the minds of the people, and this was effected from 1760 - 1775, in the course of fifteen years, before a drop of blood was shed at Lexington. o Letter to Thomas Jefferson (1815-08-24), The Works of John Adams
What do we mean by the American Revolution? Do we mean the American war? The Revolution was effected before the war commenced. The Revolution was in the minds and hearts of the people; a change in their religious sentiments, of their duties and obligations... This radical change in the principles, opinions, sentiments, and affections of the people was the real American Revolution. * Letter to H. Niles (1818-02-13)
----------------
In other words, years before the American Revolution, there had been a revolution in people's minds about the way things were and the way things should be.
Forget the disputes over just how real are Obama's high poll numbers. This is beyond Obama, or even his current followers.
Whether we realize it or not, the US went through another mental revolution of thought over the past few decades -- maybe beginning as far back as the anti-war protests of the 1960s, maybe to Roosevelt's New Deal, maybe to Lincoln forcing a more centralized Union...whatever.
This revolution of thought has slowly eroded the entire mental foundation of the country's founding principles.
The U.S., as it was and as many of us here still think of it, is already gone. Dead. A number of us have not fully caught up to this emerging reality.
Obama, and Bush before him, are only making that obvious. Steele, Arlen Spectre, the feckless GOP, all the rest -- it's all part of bigger picture already drawn and entrenched, maybe even before many of us were born.
Many of us are holding onto a mental artifact that is gone or never existed in the minds of our "fellow Americans." That remains true no matter what happens to Obama, long after he's gone.
Does that mean we give up? No. But that if you're making a personal decision not to give up, you have to start thinking more seriously about follow-up to those Tea Parties and perhaps to secession.
The U.S. is, beyond everything else, an idea. When our "fellow Americans" no longer share the basic elements of that idea -- of even basic standards of mutual respect, logic, reason, civil discourse, respect for others as equals -- our "fellow Americans" are no longer our "fellow Americans."
Plan accordingly.
Its a really great story about some nearly forgotten heroes. Nearly 1000 men went into the fight and only 33 made it out without being killed or captured.
Revenge did come eventually.
Ping. Damn it! Ping
both democrat-progressives and rino progressives have been killing the u.s. for over a century.
john mccain and his “bipartisanship” is a joke.
I could never ever understand the Civil War..how could Americans hate other Americans so, and take up arms against them? Now, I am beginning to understand.
Every man for himself.
Every man for himself.
Every man for himself.
I said it 3 times, You Happy Now?
WE THE PEOPLE ARE AMERICA.
It's not the government or even the soil we stand on. America is an idea where THE PEOPLE own the country.
AMERICA IS OURS AND WAS NEVER SUPPOSED TO BE TAKEN FROM US BY POLITICIANS.
Uh, sure...
You did it! You found the bumper sticker! Sunshine and lollipops!
Does that mean we give up? No.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Give up? No! Of course not. Please read my tag line.
Ideas are very powerful. Just ask the enslaved Soviets who wrote books out in cursive on tiny pieces of paper and passed them from person to person.
The Soviet downfall took place in the minds of the people years before the walls finally tumbled.
IIRC, the DMN ran a poll last month and support for secession is at 42% with about 25% “undecided.”
I just read the Declaration of Independence with tears streaming down my face. I agree completely with your post. It is the same as the saying that if you try to put a frog into boiling water, it will attempt to get out. But if you put the frog into cold water, and then slowly heat it to boiling, the frog will not notice until he has boiled to death. I believe most of this nation does not realize we are at the boiling point.
I agree. We should be trying to take over the MSM. But, it seems lately, we are barely hanging on to Fox News. I was bitterly disappointed this weekend that the emphasis has been on MJ rather than Cap and Trade passing through Congress with the help of 8 Republican traitors.
News flash for Fox News: Michael Jackson is STILL dead. Move on to something that actually affects my life, please.
“That is precisely why Obama wants an internal security force.”
Correct. Also, what would prevent him from bringing in a U.N. military force that would have NO qualms about firing on Americans?
“For those who want to starve the beast - if you havent noticed that is the strategy they are employing against us.”
Touche. Bingo. CAP AND TRADE.
Good luck with that.
I’m not against the United States Government. I would hope my efforts are to restore the principals and laws that our government was founded.
I will hope the oath takers in the military and the police will join us in our efforts.
I will consider anyone flying the stars and bars in open warfare to be my enemy and I will shoot on sight.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.