As Americans, I believe we all need to adopt this old American attitude toward our government. Thank you Swiftspeech crew, Stella, M.D., every one of you, for being the eyes and ears of justice for our citizenry. We must be ever vigilant, as Vigilante reminds us, and ready to fight injustice in our communities.
Here is Benjamin Franklin (via Wikipedia):
In December 1775, Benjamin Franklin published an essay in the Pennsylvania Journal under the pseudonym American Guesser in which he suggested that the rattlesnake was a good symbol for the American spirit:
I recollected that her eye excelled in brightness, that of any other animal, and that she has no eye-lids—She may therefore be esteemed an emblem of vigilance.—She never begins an attack, nor, when once engaged, ever surrenders: She is therefore an emblem of magnanimity and true courage.—As if anxious to prevent all pretentions of quarrelling with her, the weapons with which nature has furnished her, she conceals in the roof of her mouth, so that, to those who are unacquainted with her, she appears to be a most defenceless animal; and even when those weapons are shewn and extended for her defence, they appear weak and contemptible; but their wounds however small, are decisive and fatal:—Conscious of this, she never wounds till she has generously given notice, even to her enemy, and cautioned him against the danger of treading on her.—Was I wrong, Sir, in thinking this a strong picture of the temper and conduct of America?
2 comments:
We should have listened to Ben Franklin for an appropriate flag. I hope you like this quote:
Educate your children to self-control, to the habit of holding passion and prejudice and evil tendencies subject to an upright and reasoning will, and you have done much to abolish misery from their future and crimes from society.
Oh my goodness, thank you for your kind words, Pinks. We all love your visits. Maybe, just maybe, I'll vote for Obama tomorrow :-?
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