-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- GUN OWNERS ALLIANCE !!ALERT!! Chris W. Stark - Director P.O. Box 1924 Crosby, Texas 77532-1924 Ph. 1-281-787-4111 Fax 1-281-328-7505 http://www.GOA-Texas.org email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 05 February 2000 ++++++++++++++++++ Boxing Liberty ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Copyright © 2000 by DOUG FIEDOR. Republication permitted ONLY if this e-mail alert is left intact in its original state. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ http://www.uhuh.com/reports/headsup/list-hu.htm [EMAIL PROTECTED] Way back when -- when we were a lot poorer but didn't know it because we were happy and life was good -- there was a famous neighborhood orator who was also a United States Senator. As a young boy always available to do odd jobs around the neighborhood, I was required to attend a rather large outside function one beautiful June day. The Senator spoke of the joy of being an American, love of country, duty to God and country, and how proud he was of all of us for joining various civilian national defense related programs that were still around after the Second World War. Then, a surprising thing happened: His booming voice cracked and tears came to his eyes as he started to read the names of local boys killed in the Korean Police Action. He, too, knew some of those guys. And then, just when we thought he was done, he started on Liberty. Freedom and Liberty were a big deal with us back then. There were a lot of people in the neighborhood who had lived under Hitler and most of us lost relatives over there. So, when that serious stuff started, we kids knew that was not the time to be rustling around -- lest the nearest adult give us a healthy smack across the head. That day, it was a repeat of his famous "box" speech I had heard before and we had also discussed thoroughly in school. Of course he talked of the "ballot" box. I'm not sure, but it may have been an election year -- not that it ever mattered in his case. He was "Our Senator," everyone liked him, and that was that. Then he said, "I have the soap box," and went on to explain to us how important it was that we also use our freedom of speech to get our political points across. The old folks loved that. Especially the ones who recently arrived from Europe. But, when he got to the "jury" box he diverted from the law a little, some said. Apparently, he too agreed that a jury must not only judge the guilt of the person being tried, but also the applicability of the law in the matter before the jury. "That helps keep government in check," he said to thunderous applause. Soon thereafter, a little joking around started and the band was playing, so I bugged out to the refreshment stand for a large cherry Coke. Even then, though, I knew he missed something. The speech was not complete. All of the "Boxes of Liberty" were not properly related. The audience was greatly interested by the time I got back. That old guy didn't forget at all. The joking and the band playing were cover, marking time, while people he wanted came up to the bandstand. The last Liberty Box, as we all knew very well back then, was the cartridge box. And so, after another five or ten minutes on the methods of protecting Liberty, the Senator made many mothers in the audience proud by personally giving awards for expertise and proficiency in the use of personal firearms. Boy Scouts, student ROTC members from high schools and colleges, police officers . . . he lined them up and pronounced every name correctly (difficult, in that neighborhood) as he personally handed each of them an award. By their presence on that platform, each was proclaimed to be a good, honorable and useful member of society. They were "the protectors of Liberty." So said our Senator. Therefore, it must be true. That is how it was back then, when things were simpler and life was good. People said they could hear that final standing ovation two miles down the road that afternoon. Because, there was another important thing we all knew for certain, deep in our own hearts: No Nazi Gestapo types or Stalinist commie pinko punks would be taking over OUR neighborhood anytime soon. We had our own own army! And anyway, even us kids had guns and knew how to use them. Me too, I felt with pride. A Polish Catholic Priest and a Polish Jewish Rabbi were to finish out the afternoon with some words and a prayer or two. Both were very memorable with their freedom and Liberty oriented mini-sermons and their semi- nondenominational prayers. Again, there were tears evident in many of the older folks; those who lost family and friends to the Nazi jackbooted Gestapo horrors just about a decade earlier. The younger among us always thought it unfortunate that the war stories kept getting rehashed. But, unless the older folks said something, it was not our place to mention it. Then, as the flags came down, a very tall police officer sat at attention atop his beautiful thoroughbred horse and blew a very chilling rendition of Taps and the Boy Scouts fired off a twenty-one gun salute in honor of those boys the Senator mentioned who were recently lost in Korea. Back then, we all knew that the soap box, the ballot box and the jury box were the basics of freedom and liberty and must be appreciated and used properly. They defend liberty in a free society. It's when a society becomes less than free -- when government gets crazy and the other boxes no longer work properly -- that we must reach for that cartridge box. As those two great religious leaders painted so dramatically in word pictures that fine June afternoon many years ago, one only needs to read the story of the Warsaw Ghetto for an indication of just how quickly and easily the necessity for the cartridge box can occur. There was one thing everyone readily agreed on back then. Liberty requires work. These "Liberty Boxes" are not just rights, they are also our civic duties. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Help Support the work of Gun Owners Alliance! Go to: http://www.goa-texas.org/members.htm +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Copyright © 2000 by Gun Owners Alliance (GOA-Texas). Republication permitted ONLY if this e-mail alert is left intact in its original state. The views herein do not necessarily reflect the views of any other individual or organization, than Gun Owners Alliance (GOA-Texas). We do not officially represent Gun Owners of America. Go to http://www.goa-texas.org/TXsig.htm for more information. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ONLY THE E-MAIL ADDRESS USED TO SEND US A SUBSCRIBE REQUEST, CAN BE SUBSCRIBED. WE VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY OF EVERY REQUEST. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR E-MAIL ALERTS, send an e-mail to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ....and in the body of the message, type the word "subscribe". +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ TO UN-SUBSCRIBE TO OUR E-MAIL ALERTS, send an e-mail to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ....and in the body of the message, type the word "UN-subscribe". +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: PGPfreeware 6.5.2 for non-commercial use <http://www.pgp.com> Comment: 'None Genuine Without This Signature' iQEVAwUBOJzU9UMcuoA7aq7dAQGPgAf+JJ+DBmZdiDrec3rZZKLstjKluu0DBJnv wVCrUyv+54ySYJ/QMgXYer1LWJjUbJ19sheMyjuZhCHotlKhb4SQIMUrwKPoiI3j Y3vPVx/s85KAFLIunosj6ENyGlpIO93CxLqf8l52arABhf4vxCMFGMu9hmozajlq ZaMuWBBR6JTo79j+XTsyTnyffPx11ixLos0+nPtOK77hlDUyE5/CKIaTu8ShH+zS M/HJ0HjRmCW9IV1WuoOV1SRlseKUkwdm/9SIbDrJ2k+EkovscZW/RUSMBxkaIHFW tOnnWAtEDAan+Zbp0NBf/JqSTTdo1I514ytb2+YY3pYK4c42MpHauA== =92Fd -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----
