Have they died in vain?

March 23rd, a date that has had many historical things happen on it in our country, some good, some bad.

March 23, 2010 We lost our freedom and control of our medical system on that date to a band of thugs that relished in their victory over the vast majority of the country by giving speeches, using foul language in their public revelry and looking like a bunch of school yard bullies ganged together to take on all comers.

March 23, 2010 The date of the Utah Caucuses, where the Republican State Party's efforts to increase control over the individual voting precinct caucuses, devised a format that was an absolute mess until the breakaway for individual precinct meetings. To sum up the result of the new format; IF YOU WANT TO TURN A TWO CAR PARADE INTO A TRAFFIC JAM, PUT A POLITICIAN IN CHARGE OF IT! The Utah State Republican Party Leadership made Washington DC look like the Honor Roll!

Back to the March 23, 2010 events; I was elected as a State Convention Delegate along with a friend/neighbor. I am honored by my neighbor's. What was our method for being elected? Washington DC is out of control. Those who have been there are part of the problem with a few exceptions. We need to start anew! We need those who are for smaller government, less control by the government, privatizing as many functions of the government as possible, lower taxes, less spending, better national security and out with the old members of congress. We need to see about an 80% turnover in the House of Representatives and a 25% turnover in the Senate in November. (Meaning only about 8 of those up for reelection in the Senate should return!)

March 23, 1981 Supreme Court rules states could require, with some exceptions, parental notification when teen-age girls sought abortions.

March 23, 1942 U.S. move native-born of Japanese ancestry into detention centers.

March 23, 1903 Wright brothers obtain airplane patent.

March 23, 1794 1st U.S. patent (Joseph G Pierson for a riveting machine).

March 23, 1775 Patrick Henry gives his famous speech declaring, "Give me liberty or give me death!"

In March of 1775, Patrick Henry, an attorney, rode into Culpepper, Virginia. In the middle of the town square, was a man tied to a whipping post, being whipped with a whip with metal in the ends. When they stopped beating him, Patrick Henry could see the bones of his rib cage. He asked, "What has the man done to deserve such a beating as this?" The reply was that the man being scourged was a minister. He was one of twelve preachers, arrested because they refused to take the king's license to preach the gospel.

The governor was under orders that all preachers must take a license. While being tried without a jury, the minister stated, "I will never submit to taking your license. I am controlled by the Holy Spirit, and authorized by God Almighty, and will not allow you to control me by a license, no matter what you may do to me." Three days later, he was whipped to death, as well as the other ministers. This was the incident that sparked Patrick Henry to write "The War Inevitable Speech".

THE WAR INEVITABLE SPEECH March 23, 1775
Patrick Henry (1736-1799)

No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as the abilities of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the house. But different men often see the same subject in different lights, and, therefore, I hope it will not be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen, if, entertaining as I do, opinions of a character very opposite to theirs, I should speak forth my sentiments freely, and without reserve. This is no time for ceremony. The question before the house is one of awful moment to this country. Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the majesty of heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings.

Mister President, it is natural for man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth - and listen to the song of that siren, till she transforms us into beasts. 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. And judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of the British ministry for the last ten years, to justify those hopes with which gentlemen have been pleased to solace themselves and the house? Is it that insidious smile with which our petition has been lately received? Trust it not, sir; it will prove a snare to your feet.

Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss. Ask yourselves how this gracious reception of our petition comports with those warlike preparations which cover our waters and darken our land. Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation? Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled that force must be called in to win back our love? Let us not deceive ourselves, sir. These are the implements of war and subjugation - the last arguments to which kings resort. I ask gentlemen, sir, what means this martial array, if its purpose be not to force us to submission? Can gentlemen assign any other possible motive for it? Has Great Britain any enemy in this quarter of the world, to call for all this accumulation of navies and armies? No sir, she has none. They are meant for us; they can almost be meant for no other. They are sent over to bind and rivet upon us those chains, which the British ministry have been so long forging. And what have we to oppose them? Shall we try argument? Sir, we have been trying that for the last ten years. Have we anything new to offer upon the subject? Nothing. We have held the subject up in every light of which it was capable; but it has been all in vain. Shall we resort to entreaty and humble supplication? What terms shall we find that we have not already exhausted? Let us not, I beseech you, sir, deceive ourselves longer. Sir, we have done every thing 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, we may indulge 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, 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 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 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 up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we are 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 heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable - and let it come! I repeat, sir, let it come!

It is in 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 the 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


I think Patrick Henry had the greatest impact on this date in history. For without his stirring speech, there might not have been the inspiration for the beginning of the American Revolution at all costs.

Our job is to take the freedoms and rights that have been given to us by our Creator and the Founding Fathers and use them to return to the path that we should be on, the one set forth by our inspired Founding Fathers. Our Constitution is 13 pages long. We don't need 2,700 page bills to take those freedoms away from us; we just need to not care.

If you are not registered to vote, do so in the next few days. Don't allow your freedoms and rights to be taken away from you by those who would do evil. Once you have registered, you must vote in every election there is. Not just a party vote, but a vote for those individuals that will honestly return us to the great country we once were. This will require studying of the candidates and their platforms, talking with neighbors and friends and then VOTING!

More than 1,200,000 U.S. soldiers have died in the history of our country securing the right for us to vote. It is dishonoring them and telling them that they died in vain by us not voting.