This is a popular poster for a wide range of sayings. Today I responded to a fatalistic message that used the image to say we should give up our rifles. We stand no hope against the most powerful military force the world has ever seen.
It brought to mind a time and place most of us learned about long ago. Many of us think of it as our heritage rather than a fairy tale.
Some hicks faced that possibility in 1776. They faced the most powerful military force the world had ever seen … and decided liberty was worth the risk.
Today there are 75 million gun owners with 300 million guns in the USA alone … larger than all of the ruling class armies of the world combined. Those armies, you might have noticed, cannot seem to beat down the spirit of self-determination among unarmed and barely armed Arab, South American and African peasants.
Tell me again why submission is our only choice.
Lexington Green
April 19, 1775
600 British, uniformed, well equipped, combat hardened Regulars arrived to disarm the colonists
75 farmers and shop keepers faced them
Captain Parker issued the order:
“Stand your ground, don’t fire unless fared upon; but if they mean to have a war, let it begin here.”
I’ll let Sam Adams close this post:
“If ye love wealth greater than liberty, the tranquility of servitude greater than the animating contest for freedom, go home from us in peace. We seek not your counsel, nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you; May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen.”