With heavy heart.

I turn my eyes to the world outside my window. I look out and see the things stolen from the American people, their own lassitude, and acceptance of the theft. I remember the things we fought for in so many wars, spilled blood and lives like water, crushed hopes, dreams, and families...

And yet I still look outside and see the people sleeping. When will they wake? The clarion call of the trumpet is at hand, yet they still slumber. We no longer have representation in government... the recent CNN video should show us that.

We can talk on and on... but I must quote a wise man.

The right of voting for representatives is the primary right by which other rights are protected. To take away this right is to reduce a man to slavery, for slavery consists in being subject to the will of another, and he that has not a vote in the election of representatives is in this case. - Thomas Paine.

Another important quote:

It matters not where you live, or what rank of life you hold, the evil or the blessing will reach you all. The far and the near, the home counties and the back, the rich and the poor, will suffer or rejoice alike. The heart that feels not now is dead; the blood of his children will curse his cowardice, who shrinks back at a time when a little might have saved the whole, and made them happy. I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death.
My own line of reasoning is to myself as straight and clear as a ray of light. Not all the treasures of the world, so far as I believe, could have induced me to support an offensive war, for I think it murder; but if a thief breaks into my house, burns and destroys my property, and kills or threatens to kill me, or those that are in it, and to "bind me in all cases whatsoever" to his absolute will, am I to suffer it? What signifies it to me, whether he who does it is a king or a common man; my countryman or not my countryman; whether it be done by an individual villain, or an army of them? If we reason to the root of things we shall find no difference; neither can any just cause be assigned why we should punish in the one case and pardon in the other. Let them call me rebel and welcome, I feel no concern from it; but I should suffer the misery of devils, were I to make a whore of my soul by swearing allegiance to one whose character is that of a sottish, stupid, stubborn, worthless, brutish man.

-- Thomas Paine.

Who are we as citizens anymore? DO we lack the fire of the past? The power and presence of our ancestors? Have we become so emasculated as to meekly accept the tyranny which is pushed upon us? Have we become so weak, so meek, so empty as to forget that which paid for our freedom, and accept the chains which are being bound upon us?

Have we forgotten that the best guarantee of liberty is not to seek protection, but to protect ourselves? Have we forgotten personal responsibility in the culture that seeks to blame all others for our own faults?

Who the hell are we anymore, and by what right do we give up the rights of our children, their children's children, for a paucity of security? By what right do we allow the intrusion of the government into our homes, our businesses, by what right do we allow that government to tax us without representation?

Who are we anymore? What have we become? Are we a nation of spirit, a nation of progress, or a nation of cowards? Have we forgotten so much as to allow others to be harmed, and just be thankful that it is not yet us, while fearing the coming of the reaper?

The evidence is before your eyes. What could the attribution be of the training to seize firearms, to seize homes and personnel in our country? What purpose could it serve to question our troops on taking our weapons? What method would be better to bind upon us these chains which have been prepared for us?

Look around you and open your eyes. In the name of 'security' look what you've lost! Look at the fact you see so few out on the streets anymore. Look at the rising prices, the falling standards of both education and food and production. Look at the overfilling prisons, the expansion of the federal power to arrest, and the loss of the most basic right critical to prevention of tyranny, that of Habeas Corpus. Are you really more secure, or are you waiting for the government to make you more secure in your position as a slave?

Only three percent of our criminal cases ever reach a jury trial. Only six percent of our bills passing congress are read or voted on. ANd who is to say what god-awful tyranny was buried in those bills?

You're paying for those bills right now. Every moment of every day, you pay more and more out of your own pocket even while food gets more expensive and it becomes less possible to even drive to work to pay for the fuel you use getting there. We're taxed in every aspect of our lives, and for what? So some governor somewhere can have a bridge named in his honor, and so a savings and loan company can be bailed out of the bankruptcy that their own stupidity created? If you're not angry about being taxed to pay for our own enslavement, what will make you angry?

Will it make you angry that the government now can declare you an enemy combatant and put you in prison forever? Will it make you angry that you can now be put in prison indefinitely, and tortured without ever being told why you are there?

And isn't that what we fought against in Germany, what the Cold War was protesting?

Why aren't people waking? Why aren't the they fighting this tooth and claw, telling their senators and congressmen that it is no longer acceptable? Are their heads so stuck in the comfortable sand that they can't feel the bayonet at their butt?

Who are we and why do we allow this? Are we humans, or are we worms unfit to eat and breathe? DO we beg to be simply left alone, or do we take back what has been unlawfully stolen from us? Does the original consent still stand when all stipulations guaranteed for that consent to be valid no longer do?

When we no longer can question the government, demand to see how our money is spent, is it still our government? WHen by questioning, we expose ourselves to prison time and to persecution? When we can be numbered and herded off to internment facilities, is it so much a stretch to say the government has moved beyond our control?

Who are we? For me... for mine own self, I will fight this to the last breath. I will continue to educate others on what is going on here in the United States, from the fascism to the socialism. Was it not the first step of hitler to have an emergency? And was his statement not 'desperate times require desperate measures'? did he not emply homosexuals and sex offenders as scapegoats before rounding up the Jews? And who will be the jews this time, as the constitution is suspended, the congress becomes meaningless, the courts lose their powers, and we lose our rights?

Are we so much more free at this point? We have become free to be slaves. Were I to submit to such slavery willingly, I would be a traitor not only before the government, but before my own heart, my ancestors, and the judgment of eternity.

We have no other course at this point but to fight... but by what means shall we fight? Shall it be by the means of argument or by arms? Where does the future lead? I know not, but my conscience is tried and burned with a fire like none other I have known.

When your government lies to you, costs you more and more money, and no longer listens to you... what means have you to reign it in? When it spends your money, takes your property, leaves you laying bleeding in the dirt as it kicks you to death and leaves you to die...

Then you have security.. .the security of the grave.

You're welcome to that security... but in spite of all things imposed upon me, I will die as a free man.