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FreeRepublic Fundraiser --WE WILL STAND UNITED!!!-- We NEED Your Help and Patriotic Posts! Thread 58
September 16, 2001 | Americans

Posted on 09/16/2001 10:44:16 AM PDT by WIMom

Our Forefathers Legacy, we shall not fail. HamiltonJay's letter to his Grandfather. A must read by all Patriots.

 

PATRICK HENRY'S FAMOUS SPEECH
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Addressing the Virginia Assembly

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Mister President, it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth. 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 the future but by the past. Let us not, I beseech you, sir, deceive ourselves longer.

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 in the fond hope of peace and reconciliation. There is no longer any room for hope. If we wish to be free -- if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending -- if 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 has 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 inevitable -- and let it come!!

I repeat it sir, let it come! It is vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry "peace, peace" -- but 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? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet as 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!" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Patrick Henry then took his seat. No murmur of applause was heard. The effect was too deep. After the trance of a moment, several members started from their seats. The cry, "To arms!" seemed to quiver on every lip and gleam from every eye.

No written records of this speech exist. The words were so powerful that they were etched into the minds of every man present, who later assisted biographer William Wirt to bring words to paper.

Patrick Henry lived from 1736 to 1799. This speech was given before the Virginia Provincial Convention (assembled after Lord Dunsmore had suspended the Virginia Assembly) which was debating whether to send the militia under arms to defend the colony against the Crown's Government, an act of treason.

In arguments against the Stamp Act of 1765, he said "If this be treason, let us make the most of it."


TOPICS: Activism/Chapters; Announcements
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To: steveegg
Well, suprise, I'll check it out......
81 posted on 09/16/2001 12:12:34 PM PDT by WIMom
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To: WIMom
I'm not good with posting images - so I'm just going to post a link to it.

Aerial of WTC

82 posted on 09/16/2001 12:13:30 PM PDT by Gabz
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To: Gabz
Bump on the way out. Going to watch Vice-President Cheney on Tv, rerun. I love looking at him. :)
83 posted on 09/16/2001 12:15:12 PM PDT by Letitring
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To: steveegg
My paper did that yesterday for those that have been unable to acquire one from a store. I put it in the windo of my van, because I have a flag on the house.
84 posted on 09/16/2001 12:15:55 PM PDT by Gabz
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To: Letitring
Every night I pray and thank God he gave us President Bush, the leaders he has chosen, and to help give guidance to them.
85 posted on 09/16/2001 12:16:02 PM PDT by WIMom
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To: Gabz
Here it is:


86 posted on 09/16/2001 12:18:15 PM PDT by WIMom
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To: WIMom
The S(l)ick Willie response: a dozen cruise missiles fired at a couple of empty tents in Afghanistan on Wednesday afternoon (our time-early Thursday local),the suspension of our Second Amendment rights, and a declaration of victory.
87 posted on 09/16/2001 12:18:44 PM PDT by steveegg (Forgot about the abandonment of the Middle East after the dozen-missile "salute")
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To: WIMom
bttt
88 posted on 09/16/2001 12:19:47 PM PDT by lodwick (All your $5 a month are belong to us, FR Pay more if you're not on Food Stamps)
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To: WIMom
Thank you.

I spent too many hours in those buildings when I worked on Wall Street to fully comprehend they are gone and all of those people.

89 posted on 09/16/2001 12:21:09 PM PDT by Gabz
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To: Gabz
Interesting how the leftist media is moving toward the mainstream. Along those lines, the best headline I have seen is the San Francisco Inquirer (one word: BASTARDS!). Simple, clear, concise and to the point.
90 posted on 09/16/2001 12:21:25 PM PDT by steveegg
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To: Gabz
You have mail......
91 posted on 09/16/2001 12:21:53 PM PDT by WIMom
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To: steveegg
The S(l)ick Willie response: a dozen cruise missiles fired at a couple of empty tents in Afghanistan on Wednesday afternoon (our time-early Thursday local),the suspension of our Second Amendment rights, and a declaration of victory.

I only have one correction - suspension of the entire Constitution.

92 posted on 09/16/2001 12:23:24 PM PDT by Gabz
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To: steveegg
I thought he might decide to try a "Tums" facility.....You know, get rid of those environmental gasses that destroy the ozone........
93 posted on 09/16/2001 12:24:11 PM PDT by WIMom
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To: Gabz
True. Guess he wasn't behind this, as he would have done it prior to Jan. 20 (indeed, I suspect he would have on Nov. 7).
94 posted on 09/16/2001 12:25:47 PM PDT by steveegg (I'm still mad that he and Algore got military rides back into the country)
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To: steveegg
I'll get a new thread ready, this one is starting to get pretty slow........
95 posted on 09/16/2001 12:27:00 PM PDT by WIMom
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To: WIMom
Yep. BTW, is someone asleep at 6's switch? I'm missing President Bush. Could someone post an instant transcript?
96 posted on 09/16/2001 12:28:15 PM PDT by steveegg
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To: steveegg
It is interesting - I for one am glad to see it - let's see how long it lasts.
97 posted on 09/16/2001 12:28:31 PM PDT by Gabz
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To: WIMom
" On this day of faith, I have more faith in America than I have ever before............I have great faith in the resiliency of the economy......we'll show the world......my intentions...find them, find those who housed them......no one is unaware of my intent....I gave them the opportunity to express discomfort........they are comfortable with my intentions........We are facing a new kind of enemy......we have to be alert in America.........we are a nation of law and we are a nation under attack........we haven't seen this kind of barbarism in a long time.......new kind of evil.......the American people are begining to understand........this war on terrorism is going to take time.......I am determined, I will keep my focus........This will be a long campaign a determined campaign.....they have roused a mighty giant........This administration......will do what it takes to get terrorism out of the world. "
George W. Bush 9/16/01

I'm so proud this man is our president.........He's still speaking.

98 posted on 09/16/2001 12:36:30 PM PDT by Gabz
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To: Gabz
T H R E A D 5 9
99 posted on 09/16/2001 12:36:43 PM PDT by WIMom
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To: 1John,lodwick,WIMom,palo verde,Darlin'--Fishin' expedition going out later this afternoon

My special rules for today--

1John says there will be 10 casts. I will start with $1/cast(got to pay for the license and bait), add $1 for every trout(rainbow, cutthroat, steelhead, brown, or lake), $5 if the trout caught is the 'Catch of the Day'; and, the "LODWICK SPECIAL", I will add $5 to my monthly if the 'CATCH' is a 'matching' catch, $10/month if the 'CATCH' is a 'matching' catch AND a TROUT.

How many passengers lined up on the dock? You can play by your own rules, of course.

100 posted on 09/16/2001 12:39:34 PM PDT by d14truth
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