Below this, I've included the text of a message that is posted to
Scouts-L mailing list, about the founders of our country and their
attitudes as exemplified by their actions and sacrifices. I figured,
given the topic and the fact that it's almost Independence Day, I
figured it's appropriate - be aware that it's long, you've been warned
jeff
On Wed, 28 Jun 2000, Derek Martin wrote:
> Today, Jim Ryan gleaned this insight:
>
> > Now we're carrying it a bit too far. That is completely absurd.
> > Competition and free enterprise and doing things for profit is exactly why
> > this country is the best place it the world to live.
>
> And the attitude I was referring to was not competition and free
> enterprise, which are generally good things, but the attitude that nothing
> is worth doing, unless there's a buck to be had.
>
>
> > I'd also like to point out that if our founding fathers had that attitude,
> > this country would be nowhere today... probably still a British colony, or
> > perhaps a Spanish one. Or quite possibly a Nazi German one.
> >
> > That attitude has become pervasive only in the last 20 years or so, and it
> > sucks. The country is going to hell, and that's exactly why.
>
> This is absolutely true. Do you think that the majority of settlers in
> this country got rich when they came here? Don't be absurd.
>
> The people who settled this country early on WORKED HARD to make this
> country what it is, because they were idealistic, because they felt in
> their hearts it was the right thing to do. In fact, in a large percentage
> of cases, that's exactly why they came here in the first place. Do you
> think the Puritans came here to become rich? Preposterous.
>
> This country has become increasingly greedy, lazy, self-serving, arrogant,
> stupid, and pathetic. Our President is the laughing stock of the planet.
> Were it not for the fact that we already have the strongest military
> around, I've no doubt someone would have taken us over by now.
>
> In a previous message, you accused me of being idealistic... what's so
> wrong with that? If everyone were idealistic, the world would be a better
> place.
>
>
FOURTH OF JULY - SOME HISTORY
Freedom isn't free........
Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the
Declaration of Independence?
Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured
before they died.
Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned.
Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another
had two sons captured.
Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the
Revolutionary War.
They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and
their sacred honor.
What kind of men were they? Twenty four were lawyers and
jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large
plantation owners; men of means, well educated. But they
signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that
the penalty would be death if they were captured.
Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw
his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold
his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags.
Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was
forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in
the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding.
His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his
reward.
Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall,
Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and
Middleton.
At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson Jr., noted that
the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson
home for his headquarters.
He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire.
The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt.
Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The
enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months.
John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was
dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His
fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more
than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning
home to find his wife dead and his children vanished. A
few weeks later he died from exhaustion and a broken
heart.
Norris and Livingston suffered similar fates.
Such were the stories and sacrifices of the American
Revolution.
These were not wild eyed, rabble rousing ruffians.
They were soft spoken men of means and education.
They had security, but they valued liberty more.
Standing tall, straight, and unwavering, they
pledged: "For the support of this declaration, with
firm reliance on the protection of the divine
providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our
lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor."
They gave you and me a free and independent America.
The history books never told you a lot about what
happened in the Revolutionary War. We didn't fight
just the British. We were British subjects at that
time and we fought our own government!
Some of us take these liberties so much for
granted, but we shouldn't. So, take a few minutes
while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and
silently thank these patriots. It's not much to
ask for the price they paid.
Remember: freedom is never free! I hope you will
show your support by please sending this to as
many people as you can.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jeffry Smith Technical Sales Consultant Mission Critical Linux
[EMAIL PROTECTED] phone:603.930.9379 fax:978.446.9470
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thought for today: The cost of feathers has risen, even down is up!
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