Quotes Of The Day

Some thoughts on freedom as we contemplate the freedom Christ purchased for us this Easter weekend...

"It is the soldier, not the reporter who has given us the freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us the freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who gives us the freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag."
-Father Dennis Edward O'Brien, USMC

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."
-George Orwell

"Contemplate the mangled bodies of your countrymen, and then say, 'What should be the reward of such sacrifices?' ... If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animating contest of freedom, go from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen!"
-Samuel Adams

"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made so and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself."
-John Stuart Mill

"There will always be dissident voices heard in the land, expressing opposition without alternatives, finding fault but never favor, perceiving gloom on every side and seeking influence without responsibility. Those voices are inevitable."
-From the speech JFK was prevented from giving in 1963

"Dissent is a necessary good in a free country. Mindless harping for minor partisan advantage entails great danger in time of war."
-Stephen Green

and finally

"Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves"
-Abraham Lincoln

H/T Chris Taylor