EDUCATING   AMERICA  

AND  THE WORLD

TELL THE TRUTH NEWS

                                     Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death
                                                          By Patrick Henry 
                                                           March 23, 1775
                                                Edited by James Scott Berry 
                                                        (EDITS in brackets)

Mr. President, No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, of [every] worthy [gentleman] who [loves liberty and the freedoms of our Constitution]. But different men often see the same subject in different lights; and, therefore, I hope it will not be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen if, entertaining as I do, opinions of a character very opposite to theirs, I shall speak forth my sentiments freely and without reserve.

This is no time for ceremony. The question before America is one of awful moment to this country. For my own part, I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery; and in proportion to the magnitude of the subject ought to be the freedom of the debate. It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at the truth, and fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country.

Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the Majesty of Heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings [and Presidents].

Mr. President, it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the numbers of those who, having eyes, see not, and, having ears, hear not [the wickedness and perversion which are found daily in every Islamic country in the world?] For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know and speak the whole truth, to know the worst, and to provide for it.

I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience. I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past. And judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of [Muslim countries for the past 1400 years] to justify these false hopes of peace [with which liberals and the previous administration] have been so pleased to solace themselves. Is it that insidious smile of the beguiling [Muslim, former President Obama, which the world] so blithely received?

Trust it not,[my dear Americans]; it [has already proved] a snare to your feet. Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss [from the lying Muslims or our former taqqyia speaking Muslim President.] Ask yourselves how our [freedom of speech and religious satire and criticism] is accepted by Muslim enemies of our Constitutional values who live in this, our very own country], comports with those warlike preparations which cover [all of the Islamic world and now darken every State of our once free land. Are threats and warnings to fear and forego free speech that offends Muslims] necessary to a work of love and reconciliation?

[Are we now commanded to yield our Constitutional rights in order to forego the proclaimed "incitement" of wicked, perverted, and barbaric men who are stealthily swarming throughout our country with demands that we accommodate their insidious culture? Have we shown ourselves so willing to accept people of a wicked theocracy that we allow them to disquise their illegal theocracy as a religion?  Shall we allow our enemies to live amongst us and and pretend to be assimilating as they are running for over 90 elected offices and  plan to one day rule America with sharia?  Shall we continue blindly to change our customs,  our laws, and indeed our civilization, to accommodate our own destruction?]

Let us not deceive ourselves [and become fools.  The very meaning of the word "Islam" is "SUBMISSION AND SUBJUGATION."] These are the subtle implements of war and subjugation; the last arguments to which [sharia rulers, the most wicked tyrants in the world] resort.

[I ask you America, why we allow our enemies to plan our destruction on our very own soil? What means this [Caliphate Meeting in Chicago (June 17, 2012) and Call to Arms of every Radical Islamic sharia lead country in the world], if its purpose be not to force us to submission? What means this UN vote against America within our own borders to foolishly attempt to invalidate our right to determine where we will place our own embassy within the beautiful Democracy of Israel?] Can we assign any other possible motive for it [than submission to the Islamic rule and dhimmis of the UN?]

[Has the Great Theocracy of "Peace" and Subjugation decided the time has come to reveal its true motives to bring peace only after a forced bloody submission to its world-wide barbaric and inhumane laws? Yes! Radicals, and much of moderate Islam have no other true motive than to conquer and subjugate America, their great Satan.]

[The vile, hateful, and deceitful spewings of millions of Radical Muslims and Islamic Jihadists] are meant for us and for our children.]

Sirs, ladies, countrymen, we have done everything that could be done to avert the raging storm which is now coming [upon us]. We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; [our past administrations have laid upon the seductive beds of our enemies, and now we fully embrace them to impose the innocent beginnings of the most vile and perverse forms of Sharia law upon us.]

Our warnings have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt, [from the arrogant tongues of the media, the liberal elite, the past President and his taqqiya speaking Muslim Brotherhood!] In vain, after these things, [have] we indulged the fond hope of peace and reconciliation [with a medieval cultural mindset of the barbaric and savage murderers of freedom].

There is no longer any room for hope. If we wish to be free--if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending--if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggles [of freedom of conscience, freedom of religion, and freedom of speech] in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained--we must fight! I repeat it, [lovers of liberty], we must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of hosts is all that is left us! They tell us, [Patriots], that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary.

But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, [and when Islamic Mosques and Sharia law be strengthened in all of our communities and Islamic radicals fill every city and guard] every house [for any offence against Islam?] Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs and hugging that delusive phantom of hope, until [our own Muslim filled FBI and CIA and] our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot?

My fellow Americans, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. The millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty and freedom of speech to offend Islam as we and Obama so freely offend even our own religions, and in such a country as that which we possess, are, [as of yet], invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us.

Besides, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, [dear countrymen], is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, we now have no election in the matter. If we were base [and weak] enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery [to obey and not offend Islam]! Our [Islamic] chains are [being] forged! Their clanking may be heard [in the bowels the liberal media and our social justice warriors. Our slave quarters and our graves are being prepared by the Democrats and immigrants who deceitfully despise our country] . The war is inevitable--and I say, let it come! I repeat it, [my American freedom-loving comrades], let it come.

It is in vain, America, to extenuate the matter. [Islamic supporters] may cry, Peace, Peace--but there is no peace [in any Islamic country in the world. There is much persecution, subjugation, false blasphemy charges, real and barbaric blasphemy charges, murder, slaughter, rape, beheading, stoning, beating, torture, and maiming for all who oppose Islam and seek freedom]. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the [mid-east] will bring to our ears the [deafening sounds of bombs and machine guns and the cries of our children as they are slaughtered for Allah!]

Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? [What is it that the foolish liberals desire? Why would they have us fearful to speak the truth or offend Islam as we offend all religions? Why demand that we fear and submit our freedoms to the wicked Radical Islamic culture that is, at this very moment, infiltrating and surrounding us at the invitation of the Democrat Party?]

Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery to the Islamic sword? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!

By Patrick Henry, March 23, 1775 Revised by JSB, December 31, 2017.