“Many years ago in a despairing country yet to become a nation
one man sat and penned the following.
“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 by 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 everything 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”.
That man was Tom Paine, aide-de-camp to General Greene
at the time if I’m not mistaken, and I wonder how many
Americans have ever heard of him much less read his work.
If he were alive today in the country he so eloquently rallied
back then and was asked to comment on the current situation
we find ourselves in, do you think he would change his
thoughts one whit? I think not. Islander