This question was asked by William Wallace in the the movie, Braveheart. He was addressing his army before going into battle with the English.
(To be read with a Scottish accent)
"I see a whole army of my countrymen, here, in defiance of tyranny. You have come to fight as free men, and free men, you are. What will you do without freedom? Will you fight?"
"Fight against that? (the much larger English army) NO. We will run, and we will live."
"Aye. Fight and you may die. Run. You'll live. At least for a while. And, dying in your beds, many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance, just one chance, to come back here and tell our enemies that they can take our lives, but they can never take our freedom!"
I love the movie "Braveheart." That speech always gives me chills. Yes, I realize that William Wallace was not one of our founding fathers, but he was a Scottish freedom fighter.
So, what would you do without freedom? How much freedom are you willing to give up for "security"? For "health"? For "saving the environment"? For "safety"?
Our government is systematically taking away our freedoms, slowly but surely. But, rest assured, it is all for our own good.
Here's a list of 52 taxes that Americans did not pay 100 years ago. And,if we allow it, our elected officials will continue to take more and more. They will never have enough of our hard-earned money.
Here are a few words of wisdom from some of our Founding Fathers.
Benjamin Franklin said, "Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
"If ye love wealth better than liberty, the Tranquility of servitude better than the Animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were once our countrymen." - Samuel Adams, speech at the Philadelphia State House, August 1,1776
"A constitution of government once changed from freedom, can never be restored. Liberty once lost, is lost forever." - John Adams
I hope that more Americans will become aware of what is happening, and we will preserve and defend the freedoms that have made this nation great.
SO . SO TRUE! I just hope Americans will pay attention and act before it's too late.
ReplyDeleteWhat a thought-provoking take on the letter "F" :) Great stuff!
ReplyDeleteThis has certainly made me question how many more taxes we now pay in the UK! Fabulous F post.
ReplyDeleteEllie Garratt
Freedom is something that's taken for granted nowadays! Really a great post!
ReplyDeleteFollowing you from A-Z blogging challenge!
I love your project 52 list! Great!
ReplyDeleteI'm a new follower from the a-z challenge. Nice to meet you!
I'm here via the A to Z challenge and will go click that follow button just as soon as I've finished this comment. This is the best 'f' post I've seen so far today! thanks for caring enough about our freedom to write it.
ReplyDeleteMichelle
http://meanderingwithmiche.blogspot.com/
Nice to meet through the A-Z challenge! I love your post - very thought-provoking! I guess it's the same in all countries, the taxes actually ruin a country rather than help. Too bad the governments don't see it that way.
ReplyDeleteI love your project 52 list!! great stuff!
AMEN and HALLELUJAH SISTER!!!!
ReplyDeleteSomewhere, somehow the government has decided that we need them to take care of us. To regulate and control every aspect of our lives - 'cause we are capable of doing it ourselves. What really bothers me is (at least here in Texas) realizing that they are rapidly running out of money, they are thinking of new and improved ways of taxing us. Two new proposed taxes - a one cent/per ounce tax on soda - cause it's making us fat and they need to help us control our weight (oh but they're going to tax diet coke as well) and a proposed tax on toilet paper - because we all buy it and therefore it will tax us all equally. At what point are we all going to say - enough.
Oh!! And don't get me started on the dog licensing tax!!
ReplyDeleteThe town I live in has started charging an annual tax for every dog I own. Despite the fact that the city does NOTHING to or for my dogs. My dogs never leave the house or the back yard (as is the case for everyone who lives within the city limits since there is a "leash law" in effect. Apparently the fact that I own my house and pay and annual fee to live in it (known as property taxes) isn't enough and now I have to pay an additional tax to keep a dog inside the house that I own and pay taxes own.
Sorry - I'll stop ranting now ;-)
Great post! I love the title!
ReplyDelete