As True Today As It Was In 1776

[dajarrel]

"These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman." Thomas Paine, winter of 1776.

[AikiDale]

Okay, I'll play:

"He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation."

Thomas Jefferson, The Declaration of Independence, 2 July 1776

[shooterbenedetto]

Only thing I got when i saw 1776 was declaration of independece? Its all i can play!!!

[LadyinBlue]

dajarrel, how could you leave off the best part?

...Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated. Thomas Paine 19 December 1776

[AikiDale]

I'll see your 1776 and raise 1599:

This day is called the feast of Crispian:

He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,

Will stand a tip-toe when the day is named,

And rouse him at the name of Crispian.

He that shall live this day, and see old age,

Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,

And say 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian:'

Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars.

And say 'These wounds I had on Crispin's day.'

Old men forget: yet all shall be forgot,

But he'll remember with advantages

What feats he did that day: then shall our names.

Familiar in his mouth as household words

Harry the king, Bedford and Exeter,

Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester,

Be in their flowing cups freshly remember'd.

This story shall the good man teach his son;

And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,

From this day to the ending of the world,

But we in it shall be remember'd;

We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;

For he to-day that sheds his blood with me

Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,

This day shall gentle his condition:

And gentlemen in England now a-bed

Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,

And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks

That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.

[dajarrel]

As per LadyinBlue's admonition

"These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman."

...Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated.

Thomas Paine 19 December 1776

AikiDale,

talk about a thread drift.....1599 to 1776. Only 177 years

Actually, what caught my attention with this quote is the reference to the "summer soldier and the sunshine patriot" who, to my way of thinking, ride the wave of public opinion, ever changing to "fit in" and make themselves seem "progressive and timely"

fwiw

dj

[LadyinBlue]

No admonition intended dajarrel, only adding to an already awesome statement.

+1 on the fair weather patriot...seems to be a current theme also!

December 18, 2006...This morning on NBC's "Today" show, Sen. Clinton was asked about her 2002 vote and offered a slightly evolved answer. "Obviously, if we knew then what we know now, there wouldn't have been a vote," she said in her usual refrain before adding, "and I certainly wouldn't have voted that way."

[AikiDale]

AikiDale,

talk about a thread drift.....1599 to 1776. Only 177 years

Actually, what caught my attention with this quote is the reference to the "summer soldier and the sunshine patriot" who, to my way of thinking, ride the wave of public opinion, ever changing to "fit in" and make themselves seem "progressive and timely"

fwiw

dj

Not a thread drift. The Bard had Henry V express a similar sentiment methinks.

[dajarrel]

I always had problems with English Literature

Methinks I stand corrected......again.

dj

[LadyinBlue]

"but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman." Thomas Paine, winter of 1776.

"For he to-day that sheds his blood with me

Shall be my brother...

Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,

And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks

That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day."

I kept looking for the part which might be construed as a similar sentiment...

These two parts might fit that description.

There is a reward for joining the ranks of the brave few who would take up arms.

Honor, respect, love...