Penned by Jim ONeill
“There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! ...The war is inevitable—and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come. ...Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take but as for me; give me liberty or give me death.”—Patrick Henry (1736-1799)
The “Restore the Constitution” rally on 11/11/11 had everything one could wish for—passion, power, and pumped-up patriotism—everything but people. Nonetheless, the undiluted “Spirit of ‘76” soon made me stop counting heads, and start counting blessings.
I flew into Reagan International from Tampa on the morning of Veterans Day, this past Friday. I arrived a little after 9:00am and made my way by Metrorail to the Smithsonian, after which I walked the short distance to the National Mall, and the Washington Monument.
I should have brought my Daniel Boone coonskin cap with me, as I my usually dependable inner-compass was on the fritz that day. Not seeing signs of any rally after walking 180 degrees around the Washington Monument, I followed a small group of veterans who were walking toward the Lincoln Memorial.
It turned out that they were heading to the National WW II Memorial, so I found another group of veterans who looked like they knew where they were going, and followed them in turn. They did indeed know where they were going—to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. This was, again, not where I wanted to go, so I started back-tracking my way to the Washington Monument.
(Sidebar: For those of you who may not know, the earthquake that hit the Washington DC area last summer left the Washington Monument in bad shape. Also, the famous Reflecting Pool isn’t reflecting squat these days—it is closed for repairs and renovation until next spring, and is currently filled with dirt). Link Link
I made my way back to Washington’s Monument, and headed for the area that I had bypassed earlier, and soon found the “Restore the Constitution” rally—it was hard to miss actually, with Patrick Henry and George Washington impersonators dressed in period costumes, and a scattering of thirteen star, Gadsden, and present day American flags. Link
Last Friday was a chill and blustery day in DC, but I was “dressed for success” in flannel-lined blue jeans, turtle-neck, heavy shirt, hooded sweat-shirt, watch cap, and fleece vest. I made my way to the stage and introduced myself to JB Williams who was introducing each speaker. JB asked me if I would speak a few words to the gathering, and I said “Of course.”
I walked to the podium and started by saying that I had some good news, and some bad news. The bad news was that I was a writer, not a speaker. The good news was that my talk would be short—and so it was.
I said that we needed to have the same resolve as the 300 Spartans at Thermopylae, who when told to surrender their weapons by the invading Persians replied “Molon labe!”—which basically means “Come and get ‘em!”
(Sidebar: I researched how to pronounce molon labe, and several websites agreed that it is pronounced mo—lone lah-vay. Shortly after I finished speaking a gentleman came up to me and said “I speak Greek—it’s mo-lone lah-bay.” Oh well).
“We the people” need that Spartan resolve —but not their defensive attitude. The time for drawing lines in the sand is past—saying “This far and no farther.” That has been the scenario followed time and time again over the last century in America.
The Progressives slowly built up the structures of big government bit by bit, decade by decade, and each time conservatives got the reins of power back they would draw a line in the sand and say “No more!” Then the Progressives would come into power again, and again increase the power, and scope, and control of government. Until the conservatives came into office in their turn, and drew another line in the sand—always farther back than the one before.
This retreat, hold—retreat, hold—retreat, hold scenario has been replayed until there is now nowhere left to retreat to, and the status quo is no longer worthy of holding. The America of today is barely worth defending. The only way out is forward —attack!
“We the people” need to combine the resolve of the 300 Spartans, with the passion, patriotism, and spirit of 1776. We must recover the ground that we have lost to duplicitous, unscrupulous, traitorous weasels, and we must retake America. We must retake it, remake it, and reinvigorate it—it is our right, and it is our duty! If “we the people” do not do it, it will not get done.
I pointed up at the cracked, damaged, but still standing Washington Monument rising above our heads. Engraved on an aluminum capstone on the top of the obelisk’s pyramidion are the words “Laus Deo”—“Praise be to God.” Those words are the first thing that the morning sun strikes each day in our nation’s capital.
I finished my short talk by saying that with the unwavering resolve of the 300 Spartan’s “molon labe,” coupled with the spirit of “Laus Deo” guiding us, “we the people” must make America once again into “one nation under God;” the “shining city on a hill.” I then had the privilege of introducing Judi McLeod, the editor of “Canada Free Press” (CFP).
I met a number of people for the first time that day—Judi McLeod and Brian Thompson of CFP, JB Williams of Patriot’s Union, Col. Harry Riley of VDA (Veteran Defenders of America) and many others; forgive me if I do not mention all the names, as there were quite a few. One lady gave me an apple “that came all the way with me from Michigan.” Although I did not get to speak with Harry MacKay, who impersonated Patrick Henry, I did exchange a few words with James Manship, who impersonated George Washington.
I knew that each person who was there represented tens-of-thousands who, for various reasons, could not be at the rally in person—although I knew for sure that they would have liked to have been there, and were there in spirit. I also knew that because word about the rally had been slow in getting out, and the venues promoting it were few, that I should not be surprised by a relatively sparse attendance, and I wasn’t.
My one regret is, because of my delayed arrival, I did not get to hear all of the speakers. The ones that I did get to hear were inspiring and uplifting. Perhaps it was the pure distilled patriotic spirit that surrounded me; perhaps it was the knowledge that small groups of similar patriots are busy taking back America, town by town, county by county, state by state, but as the rally wound down, and I prepared to make my way back to Florida, I stood in the fading fall sunlight and felt at peace. Link Link Link Link
I was at peace because I felt the “having done all, to stand” release that comes from having done your duty. I did the footwork, and as always, left the results up to God. America may or may not make it through the coming trials and tribulations. If she falls, she will not be the first great country to do so. It is a hard thing, but I have no Ozymandian hubris about America’s everlasting greatness. God’s will be done. Link Link
I know that Wall Street and US government representatives are ripping off “we the people” and stealing all they can, while they can. I know that our government is riddled with traitors, our military with quislings, and our culture with perversion. I know all this and more, and I stood with other patriots at the bottom of the hill that the Washington Monument stands on, and bore witness to the decay and depravity in America, and for a few hours at least, polished to a bright sheen her honored past and cherished traditions.
One way or another, probably from several different directions at once, the s—t is about to hit the fan. There is a very real chance that the United States of America will end up splintered and balkanized into embattled regions, states, and enclaves. I have done my duty as best I could see it, and stood tall for America in our nation’s capital.
The future is uncertain; hard facts and dire circumstances confront us, and the hard work of restoring liberty lies ahead of us (if God graces us with such an opportunity), but the “spirit of ‘76” is alive and well—you just have to know where to look for it. Last Friday I found it in Washington DC. May God bless America, and may she long endure!
Laus Deo.
Jim ONeill Most recent columns Born in June of 1951 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Jim O’Neill (constitutionalwrites.com) proudly served in the U.S. Navy from 1970-1974 in both UDT-21 (Underwater Demolition Team) and SEAL Team Two. A member of MENSA, he worked as a commercial diver in the waters off Scotland, India, and the United States. In 1998 while attending the University of South Florida as a journalism student, O’Neill won “First Place” in the “Carol Burnett/University of Hawaii AEJMC Research in Journalism Ethics Award.” The annual contest was set up by Carol Burnett with the money she won from successfully suing the National Enquirer for libel. Jim can be reached at: lausdeo.jim@gmail.com
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Replies
Having heard from a number of people who were not there and the reasons they couldn't make it, it is refreshing to hear from another who was. I do not know if we met Jim, as I met so many last Friday but I did listen to all of the speakers and was inspired by their commitment to the cause of Liberty. I will see you all again before this is over, of that I am sure.
I was there. Dan McKay is from Fla also. I have his paperwork but haven't had a chance to sit down and read it. I was a little disappointed with the turn out. This is just one rally and just the 1st step to recover the Republic. I think a lot of folks are waiting for and watching where the 2012 election will take us. Just keeping listening, though...! You will here in the back ground...snick-snick..snick-snick..snick-snick...! That is the sound of patriots pushing a cleaning rods thru the barrels of their firearms. There are about 80 MILLION gun owners that we KNOW about. That's the largest army in the world. Think about it......:>)...! Oooo....Raaahhhh...! Semper Fi...!
It was good to meet you Firehawk.......Harry MacKay (aka Patrick Henry) brought people in off the street in D.C...a riveting presentation.
It is disappointing that there were so few in attendance at the "Restore the Constitution Rally" on 11/11/11. I was not able to attend and for the same reasons that many others probably were not able to attend. Those of us who live in the far west have a sizable economic burden to travel to Washington for a one day rally. This is, of course, one of the main problems we face. We are not funded by any large organizations, such as the "progressives" are. We have no Unions, nor philanthrophists who can grant billions of dollars for the cause. We are besieged daily by multiple organizations requesting donations for this good cause and for that good cause, for this candidate or for that one. Most of us are trying to make ends meet for the necessities of life and can't afford to contribute to all these "good" causes. Then you read where some of these "PACS" are feathering their own nests and not using the money for the purposes they profess to be for, and you end up wondering what and if you should contribute at all. However, even if we can't compete monetarily we still have the vote and we don't need "unions" or "organizations" to decide for us who we should vote for. We need only pay attention to what is going on in the world and vote as our conscious tells us to. God Bless us and God Bless America.
I'm glad that I made it down from New York that Friday. I am currently working on the next edition of USIntel.net, and will be mentioning my experience in D.C. I cannot accept any defeatist attitude in spite of the seemingly overwhelming odds. I recently read that, during the American Revolutionary War, 30% of the population was actively engaged in war against the British. The remaining 70% were either loyal to the crown or indifferent. 30%!! Doesn't that sound familiar? As I will be mentioning in this month's Editorial, we must utilize psychological warfare against the progressives/communists as well as other means. No fear, and focus on the enemies' weaknesses and short-comings: they have many! Keep the faith and God bless everyone who is taking time from their lives to restore liberty. Take care.
William Homolka, Editor in Chief,
USIntel.net
wh.usintel@yahoo.com
I would rather stand with ten PATRIOTS than 10,000 who just showed up to see the show.
I came down from Michigan with my new Friend (Thanks, Twana.) Robert Head. We had a good time on the drive down, (He didn't believe me when I said I hoped it doesn't rain on the way to Virginia by DC. I told him traffic stops. It lightly rained and traffic stopped. He could believe it then.) we had a good time driving around on Friday, looking for a parking spot, we had a good time at the rally, we had a good time getting lost trying to find the way back to the hotel and a good time driving home.