You’ve heard about the birth of the Revolutionary War. You heard about the British fleeing for the safety of Boston. This began the siege of Boston which would stretch all the way into March of 1776. Finally, Colonials seized Dorchester Heights and were able to use that high ground, to drive the Regulars out of Boston. However, that elation would be short-lived. America’s future hung in the balance. 1776 was a very dark year for the Colonials.
The Regulars had been forced out of Boston but were amassing an immense war fleet near New York harbor. And they would push on from there, defeating the colonials again, and again. Long Island, New York City, Fort Washington, Fort Lee, Newport.
In a forced retreat, the Colonials leave the New York area, carrying with them a grave uncertainty.
“Among Washington’s troops is a man named, Thomas Paine, who captured the mood among the Patriots in his piece, The American Crisis. This was a series of pamphlets, with the first coming out on December 23, 1776. If I may, I’d like to share with you the opening paragraph of that piece.
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 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 everything 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. Britain, with an army to enforce her tyranny, has declared that she has a right (not only to tax) but “to bind us in all cases whatsoever,” and if being bound in that manner, is not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth. Even the expression is impious; for so unlimited a power can belong only to God.”[Thomas Paine, The American Crisis, Pamphlet #1, December 23, 1776]
That was 1776 though, why would I relate those words now? Do they have relevance today? Did they strike a chord with you?
Today, we fight an uphill battle against America’s 3 greatest foes; apathy, ignorance, and laziness. At times, things do look bleak and uncertain. America is a sinking ship and she needs help baling her out. That’s why we’re here. And I hope that is why you’re here too.
To quote Thomas Jefferson, “Educate and inform the whole mass of the people. Enable them to see that it is in their interest to preserve peace and order, and they will preserve them. And it requires no very high degree of education to convince them of this. They are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty.” [Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 1787.]
So, it is up to you, up to me; up to us. We have a lot of work to do. “Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered”
Do you know what happened just two days after Thomas Paine penned the words I read?
Washington led his troops in the dead of night across the frozen Delaware River and captured Trenton, thus turning the tide of the war and re-forging the convictions of the colonists. At a time when things were at their bleakest, they did not cling to despair and hide their heads in the sand or cower like sheep to the wolves. Patriots stood together and did the unthinkable. These are the men and women you descend from. Think of them and remember what they fought for. The American Revolution lives on, in the hearts and minds of each and every one of you.