Erik B’s Blog.

Boy the holidays sure flew by. What with vacations, visiting, and of course eating way too much (but my relatives are such good cooks you can’t stop eating). Anyway, I wont bore anyone with Thanksgiving stuff (or make you hungry .

Yesterday I attended Handel’s Messiah at a church near my home. It was really neat. They had nearly one hundred people in the choir and it sounded awesome. We were limited to hearing it because they were full in the main building. Sitting in the foyer was not ideal but we could still hear it.

I’ve been working quite a bit on scholarships. I’ve written four essays in the last five days. One of them which I didn’t use was on “Liberty and Freedom” I’ll share it with you.

Liberty and Freedom-The American Spirit

America is a land of opportunity. That is one reason people have traversed the planet to emigrate to America. But, what is it that draws people from such a wide diversity of nationalities, and then naturalizes them into a people united in heart and action? It is the American Spirit which brings us all into unity and arouses patriotism in hearts of each. But, what is this “American Spirit”? This driving force that was established when the colonists first braved the dangers of the unknown and landed upon the cold unfriendly shores of present day Virginia? The American Spirit is based in part upon the founding principles of our government, ie. equal representation in government, equality amongst the people of America, and a stand against unjust government. This is a diminutive list which barely scratches the tip of the ice burg of what distinguishes an American from other nationalities, however, I believe it is a basic characterization of the history of the American people.
The words of the great patriot Patrick Henry echo through the centuries, “I know not what choice others may take, but as for me: Give me liberty of give me death!” So resounded the battle cry of freedom that carried liberty and life throughout the colonies. This longing for freedom brought about a rebellion against the king of England and eventual victory for the people of America. This is one of the distinguishing factors of the American people, the pursuit of freedom and a voice in their government. I will be privileged to exercise my voice in the government through voting and possibly the pursuit of politics when I come of age. Our Declaration of Independence says in part, “But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security.” This is a direct stand against encroachments upon our freedoms.
Coupled with this desire for freedom and a voice in government is the underlying resolution that Americans will resist any efforts to subjugate them under tyranny. This resistance by word and action is exemplified by many characters in history. Paul Revere, a patriot and member of the Sons of Liberty, on a dark night crossed the Charleston River by boat with oars muffled so that the English aboard their ships could not hear him. Once across the river he mounted a waiting horse and rode off to alert the militia, then known as Minute Men, that the enemy were preparing to seize valuable supplies, including munitions, from Concord. Because of his daring act to alert the colonists, the English were attacked on their march back from Concord and driven back into Boston. Paul Revere demonstrated the importance of freedom by putting his life on the line to uphold its hallowed tenets.

So Long.

Erik B.