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THE RED MENACE

Laura Bramble

The Price of American Ideals

Fifty-six men gathered in a hot, airless room in Philadelphia in the early summer of 1776. They came for hundreds of miles, from all over what was then known as Britain’s 13 American colonies. Their original intent was to write a letter of protest to King George of England, stating their objections to the taxes, policies and lack of British Parliamentary representation the colonies received. The document they produced and signed was much more than that. That document was the Declaration of Independence, and it set out the guiding principles our nation was to eventually be governed by. They knew the risk they were taking and knew there would be a tremendous cost, but understood that these values were, and are, values worth fighting for.

For their troubles, of the 56:
5 were captured and tortured by the British before they died
12 had their homes ransacked and burned to the ground
2 lost sons in the Revolutionary War
2 had sons captured in the war
9 fought and died from wound or war created hardship
6 lost everything to the British and died penniless
4 lost their wives to the war
3 lost their children due to having to flee or being taken prisoner

A large number of these 56 lost everything that meant anything to them; they truly sacrificed in order to see the values of equality, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Find me 56 Republicans in Congress who would be willing to do the same.

Today’s Republicans espouse to wear the mantle of the protectors of ideals of the Founding Fathers. Yet at the convention, they made it clear that cheap gas was worth protecting the environment for the future quality of life for our children. In order to not pay higher taxes, they are willing to let people go without necessary health care. So that they can keep a few extra dollars in their pockets, they do not want to see money spent on helping this country recover as a whole from economic hardship.

Where is the Republican commitment, other than with empty words? Where is their sacrifice for the ideals of this country they claim to so love? Where is the willingness to place ideals over personal interest?

As for claims of comparison between the GOP and the Founding Fathers? Until the Republicans are willing to pay the price needed to guarantee these values, there is no comparison- or at least no positive one.

August, 16, 2009

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