Let every American, every lover of liberty, every well wisher to his posterity, swear by the blood of the Revolution, never to violate in the least particular, the laws of the country; and never to tolerate their violation by others.

As the patriots of seventy-six did to the support of the Declaration of Independence, so to the support of the Constitution and Laws, let every American pledge his life, his property, and his sacred honor; let every man remember that to violate the law, is to trample on the blood of his father, and to tear the charter of his own, and his children's liberty.

Let reverence for the laws, be breathed by every American mother, to the lisping babe, that prattles on her lap; let it be taught in schools, in seminaries, and in colleges; let it be written in Primers, spelling books, and in Almanacs; let it be preached from the pulpit, proclaimed in legislative halls, and enforced in courts of justice. And, in short, let it become the political religion of the nation; and Let the old and the young, the rich and the poor, the grave and the gay, of all sexes and tongues, and colors and conditions, sacrifice unceasingly upon its altars.

While ever a state of feeling, such as this, shall universally, or even, very generally prevail throughout the nation, vain will be every effort, and fruitless every attempt, to subvert our national freedom.


- Abraham Lincoln, January 27, 1838
  Address Before the Young Men's Lyceum of Springfield, Illinois

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

America's rebirth

Yesterday was a day for the ages.

I am still awed by the size of the crowds who ventured to Washington and braved the cold (although I would also have done it if I could have gotten away.) We won a peaceful revolution yesterday. We took back our nation's capitol, the people's house, and our flag. We took back our high ideals, our pride, our honor and our determination to work for good. As President Obama said in his inaugural speech, we gathered in Washington yesterday because we have chosen hope over fear.

We decided, as one nation, to finally grow up and take responsibility. President Carter asked this us of us in the 70s but we weren't ready... we didn't want to give up our gas-guzzling cars and wean ourselves of fossil fuel. We wanted someone to tell us 'don't worry, be happy.' And so the problems continued, and grew as we looked the other way. We weren't ready to grow up until everything fell apart; until the most power-hungry and greedy among us very nearly ran off with our democracy.

We are the descendants of survivors. Our ancestors fought and overcame many obstacles to come here (or in the case of the Native Americans and African Americans, to survive here;) all based on a dream of liberty, peace and prosperity.

America was a light to the world. Its time to be that light again. It starts here at home.

It's time to rebuild New Orleans. It's time to stop the foreclosures and jump start our economy. It's time for ALL citizens to get involved, ALL citizens to resolve a change in our lives and a reversal of our bad habits. It's time to put away the partisan hatreds that were always ridiculous, but which have been here since the country was formed.

Its time to grow up. We can do this.

Yes we can.

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