"And for support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on Divine Providence we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, & our sacred Honor."
--Thomas Jefferson, Declaration of Independence, 1776

A short history of the United States in memory of those who made her great, and an inquiry as to where that type of American has gone. By the way this is how I learned my history. It is not what the NEA is teaching our children and grand children today, or how the revisionists at the Discovery-Times channel are presenting it.

While technically not Americans, this country was settled, in 1620, by Protestant Christians (Pilgrims) who were risking life, limb, and fortune to escape oppression in order to obtain the freedom to worship as they chose. They were the embodiment of the American Spirit and the first of a continuing stream of immigrants (legal immigrants are still welcome by the way) in search of freedom and opportunity. Where have all those Americans gone?

In 1770, Americans are massacred, in the streets of Boston, while protesting the actions of a tyrannical government which included unwarranted search and seizure. Three years later, in the same city, Americans, again in protest, this time over increased taxation, hold the Boston Tea Party. On April 19, 1775 the battle of Lexington-Concord touches off the American Revolution, and the fight for independence is underway. Where have all those Americans gone?

July 4, 1776, Congress adopts the Declaration of Independence. Oct. 19, 1781, British General Charles Cornwallis surrenders to General George Washington, in a small fishing village called Yorktown. Finally on Sept. 17, 1787, the greatest political document ever conceived in the history of mankind, The Constitution of the United States of America, is signed by the delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. In June 1788, New Hampshire becomes the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, putting it into effect on the condition that a Bill of Rights be added. On September 25, 1789 the Bill of Rights, including 12 amendments, is proposed to the states delegates. Three days later on September 28, 1789 amendments 3-12 are ratified and signed by the Speaker of the House. However, it will be 1791 before they officially become part of the Constitution. The sacrifices of life, limb and fortune of so many thousands, in the struggle for freedom, has finally borne fruit. Where have all those Americans gone?

In 1803, Thomas Jefferson purchases the Louisiana Territory from France, and men like Meriwether Lewis, George Rogers Clark, and David Crockett explore, and lead the way in taming the western wilderness. In 1812, the United States gets tired of Great Britain impressing American sailors on the high seas, and declares war. American Commander, Oliver Hazard Perry defeats the British at the Battle of Lake Erie, and although it was after the peace treaty ending the war had been signed, on Jan. 8, 1815, Andrew Jackson defeats the British at New Orleans. A few years later, on Mar. 6, 1836, Sam Houston's "Texicans" died to a man in the Alamo, while fighting for their freedom, in the Texas War for Independence from Mexico. Where have all those Americans gone?

Land, opportunity, and possible fortune lay to the west. So, entire families, and as many possessions as space permitted were crammed into small covered wagons, and groups of these wagons called trains, held together out of a need for mutual security, moved westward to settle the plains, prairies, mountains and valleys. Facing uncertain hardships which included fire, storm, flood, drought, famine, disease and hostile inhabitants, they prevailed, and settled the land, and they brought their Bill of Rights with them. Where have all those Americans gone?

On April 12, 1861, Fort Sumpter is bombarded and the American Civil War is underway. Slavery, while not the only cause of the war, is a major issue. On Jan. 1, 1863, Abraham Lincoln issues his Emancipation Proclamation, declaring the slaves free, but in order for this to become a reality the Union must first win the war. April 9, 1865, General Robert E. Lee surrenders to Union forces at Appomattox court house and on Dec. 18, 1865, slavery is abolished in the United States by ratification of the 13th amendment to the Constitution. The United states was once again united and an entire people was freed from bondage. In testing the resolve of this country to remain united and free, more Americans perished in the Civil War than in all other wars combined in which Americans have been involved. Where have all those Americans gone?

Following the wagon trails, the railroads open up the west. Small towns, that grew up around frontier forts, become rail heads, some will grow into large cities. Fortunes are made overnight and lost just as quickly. In the West, Chinese laborers are brought in to help build the railroads. In the East, the hungry, huddled masses of Europe flock to the United States with her promise of freedom, and opportunity. Irish and Scots, Norwegians and Swedes, Germans and Italians, Greeks, Russians, Poles, and many others. All bring their diverse cultures which strengthens the national fabric. All are proud, new Americans, ready to defend their newly acquired freedoms, with life, limb and fortune, and they had names like Clinton, Brady, Schumer, Moynihan, Metzenbaum, Feinstein, Biden, Bradley, Owens, Gutierrez, Yates, Freeh and Reno. Where have all those Americans gone?

In the intervening years, Americans who felt strongly about their rights and freedoms, have died in a number of wars and military actions helping to defend, or reclaim, the freedoms of other people all over the globe. Those Americans weren't afraid to die in defense of freedom. Where have all those Americans gone? Today, a volunteer military is fighting, and dying, in Iraq and to a lesser degree Afganistan, for something they must feel is worth fighting for.

Have all those Americans died in vain, fighting to obtain and then defend our constitutional freedoms, only to let them be taken away in the name of security? Will you let the Government control your life for a little security? Think about the meaning of security, there's no freedom in security. Barred windows and doors, security buildings, walled and gated communities, are they keeping the world out, or are they keeping you in? Is there really any difference? Freedom comes with no guarantees. Insecurity and the risk of failure and even the risk of bodily harm is the price all free people must pay in order to remain free. There is a thing called self defense which is a right that all living things are born with. This isn't even a right, it is a duty, a mandate of Nature, to protect yourself from any other living thing, so that you and your offspring will survive to carry on. In order to do this, you must be able to respond with a use of force equal to, or greater than, that used against you. Anything less means annihilation. If you think not, look around you, check the news and listen for names like Cambodia, Burundi, Rwanda, Haiti, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Northern Ireland, Sudan, New York and Washington D.C. and see what happens to people who are unable to defend themselves. If you are looking for security I might suggest Singapore, or the People's Republic of China. I remember when America was "the home of the brave." Where have all of those Americans gone?

Remember, only oppressive governments and criminals fear the honest, armed citizen. The philosopher, George Santayana said, "Those who forget the past, are condemned to repeat it." I remember 45 years of tyrannical oppression in Eastern Europe, because the people there had no means to defend themselves from the blight of Communism. Lest we forget, tyranny by any name is still tyranny and I don't want it to happen here. I remember when Congress wouldn't have let the President tread on the Constitution, but now many of them are also wiping their feet on it. I remember a lot of good things about this country that we seem somehow to have lost. I remember when people taught their children to respect authority, because people in authority earned our respect. I remember when Americans, of all colors, were held responsible for their own actions and parents held themselves responsible for the actions of their minor children. I remember when Americans were too proud to accept welfare. I remember when criminals were treated like criminals, do the crime, do the time and hard time at that, in a real prison, not some taxpayer subsidized country club, or home on probation, but back then the government wasn't afraid to take on the criminal elements in this country. I remember when the government treated honest, law abiding citizens like honest, law abiding citizens. A government that won't trust its citizens, can't be trusted. I remember when Americans had respect for family values and people somehow got married before they had children. I remember when schools provided an education and kids graduating from high school were actually expected to be able to read and write, know the history of this nation, tell the time from an analog clock and perhaps make change for a dollar. I remember when Americans respected their flag and had pride in their nation and children could say the flag salute in school. I remember when Americans would stand up and defend their freedoms. I remember when Americans had some self respect. Where HAVE all those Americans gone?

Wherever you have gone, please come back, we need you.

"There are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachment of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpation."
-- James Madison

Submitted by Publius on 03/14/06. | Send Comments to ThePatriotExchange.com