248 years ago today, at St. John's Henrico Parish Church in Richmond,

[fairgambit]

a 39 year old attorney gave a speech which concluded with these words:

It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace-- but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!

His name, of course, was Patrick Henry.

 

[Connorpozlee]

a 39 year old attorney gave a speech which concluded with these words:

It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace-- but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!

His name, of course, was Patrick Henry.

View attachment 321495

That speech was in the very back of my high school junior English textbook (which I took simultaneously with senior English my senior year, but I digress…..). No matter what we were supposed to be reading, I would read that speech. That highlighted portion is beautiful. My favorite speech of all time. Thanks for posting it!

 

[PSU Mike]

Hell, I thought he was dead, but if he can still coach, make him an offer. Have him recruit that tall Washington fellow and hook him up with some NIL.

 

[fairgambit]

That speech was in the very back of my high school junior English textbook (which I took simultaneously with senior English my senior year, but I digress…..). No matter what we were supposed to be reading, I would read that speech. That highlighted portion s beautiful. My favorite speech of all time. Thanks for posting it!

Nice vignette. I can visualize the whole class reading Charles Dickens and you reading Patrick Henry.

 

[Connorpozlee]

Nice vignette. I can visualize the whole class reading Charles Dickens and you reading Patrick Henry.

Not Dickens, but I distinctly remember the class reading Macbeth when a friend turned to ask me what something in that text meant and I responding with, “Give me liberty, or give me death!”

 

[91Joe95]

a 39 year old attorney gave a speech which concluded with these words:

It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace-- but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!

His name, of course, was Patrick Henry.

View attachment 321495

Now that guy was a real insurrectionist.

 

[Tom McAndrew]

From one of my favorite historians on the American Revolution:

 

[HarrisburgDave]

Hell, I thought he was dead, but if he can still coach, make him an offer. Have him recruit that tall Washington fellow and hook him up with some NIL.

I hear that Jefferson guy has some hops. Adams is a relentless point guard. Arnold can’t be trusted with the ball.

 

[psuro]

Now that guy was a real insurrectionist.

Yeah, because that and other thing you are referencing are exactly the same. Patrick Henry may have been a Patriot - the people you want to celebratre are Faketriots.

 

[PSU Mike]

I hear that Jefferson guy has some hops. Adams is a relentless point guard. Arnold can’t be trusted with the ball.

Looking ahead, Adams has legacy potential, I hear.

 

[91Joe95]

From one of my favorite historians on the American Revolution:

So you're trying to tell me no one pulled out a cell phone? I don't believe you.

 

[Karl_Havok]

So you're trying to tell me no one pulled out a cell phone? I don't believe you.

You miss every shot you don’t take.

- Abraham Lincoln