by The Honorable Allen B. Clark allenbclark@aol.com
When Linda and I travel abroad or in our own nation, we tend to visit sites off the typical tourist paths. Such was so years ago when we visited St. John's Episcopal Church in Richmond, VA. It was not an accident we went there. That is the church on March 23, 1775 where American Patriot Patrick Henry, member of our First Continental Congress and first governor of the state of Virginia, spoke those immortal fiery words that were a guidepost in the following years leading to the liberty of and formation of our dear United States of America. Some of the words he spoke that day are captured as follows:
"The question before the House is one of awful moment to this country. For my own part I consider it nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery,...Should I keep back my opinions at such time , through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason toward my country and of an act of disloyalty toward the majesty of heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings....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?...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!
Sir, we are not weak, if we make a proper use of the 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 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....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!"
Source:Great American Speeches Edited by Gregory R. Suriano Gramercy Books New York 1993. William Wirt re-created the address in his Life of Patrick Henry (1817).
This speech is one never to be relegated to the dust bins of history. It was one of the first bugle calls spurring our nation to break the chains of slavery of the British Empire. There are those throughout history, who could relate to these words of Patrick Henry's, as being the motivation and emotional appeal to break the temporal chains of slavery from servitude to governments that abuse their power. Temporal government slavery exists internationally today. Stay tuned to harken back to this speech and adapt it to the liberty or death we face in the lives of each and every human being on earth today.
