"Stain not the glory of your worthy ancestors, but like them resolve never to part with your birthright; be wise in your deliberations, and determined in your exertions for the preservations of your liberties. Follow not the dictates of passion, but enlist yourselves under the sacred banner of reason; use every method in your power to secure your rights; at least prevent the curses of posterity from being heaped on your memories." Joseph Warren (1772).
Joseph Warren was part of the Sons of Liberty in colonial Massachusetts who rebelled against British oppression. In league with Samuel Adams, John Adams, and John Hancock, he was a leading light of the American Revolution. His admonitions may seem somewhat quaint today - harkening to past and future generations as a rallying cry for liberty? Really?
Really. Warren tapped into an eternal truth that is too often overlooked today. We owe our freedom to the sacrifices of generations before us, and we - in just a few years - can lose it all. If so, following generations will look back at our era and scorn what we did. In the twitter world (and yes, I'm tweeting this blog), we often forget that there is more than the present and 140 characters. There are enduring values and struggles that deserve "every method in" our power to preserve liberty.
Warren was not kidding. He was killed at the Battle of Bunker Hill. Honor his legacy, and your children's, and "resolve never to party with your birthright" of the First Principles of the rule of law, unalienable rights, limited government, equality, the Social Compact, and revolution.
For more, visit www.PatriotWeek.org and www.AmericasSurvivalGuide.com.
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