THESE are the times that try men's (peoples) souls

[Peacetrain]

Well we are into the sixth month of President Obama and the Democrats return to office. When Thomas Paine wrote these words, of course he was talking about a different revolutionary movement.. and I have put the first couple of paragraphs below.

But they also apply to us now. We are going to be bombarded by the media, blogs, you name it as we try and slog forward. We knew it was not going to be easy two years ago..well we were right, it is not easy. This is the time we pull together not apart. It is going to get tough from here on out.





December 23, 1776
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 by 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 every thing 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.

Whether the independence of the continent was declared too soon, or delayed too long, I will not now enter into as an argument; my own simple opinion is, that had it been eight months earlier, it would have been much better. We did not make a proper use of last winter, neither could we, while we were in a dependent state. However, the fault, if it were one, was all our own ; we have none to blame but ourselves. But no great deal is lost yet. All that Howe has been doing for this month past, is rather a ravage than a conquest, which the spirit of the Jerseys, a year ago, would have quickly repulsed, and which time and a little resolution will soon recover.

[zeemike]

1. Would that it be as easy as it was in 1776

But they were revolting against a kingdom...we are trying to extract ourselves from a much larger and more complex enslavement that is ruled by a world wide ologarchie...the corporations.
Muskets will do us little good. our only weapon is to extract ourselves from the consumerism that keeps us bound to them.