The price of freedom

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Who_said_eternal_vigilance_is_the_price_of_freedom#ixzz2BabFpKyK

•  "The battle for freedom is never won, and is never lost. The battle for freedom always continues. It is never too late, and it is never soon enough, to defend freedom. No matter how enslaved we are, we always have hope. No matter how free we are we are never safe. NOTHING EVER LIMITS THE GOVERNMENT, EXCEPT THE PEOPLE. Any generation that fails to defend freedom will lose it. The next generation will have to shed blood to gain it back" ~ John Perna 

• When the defense of liberty becomes a crime, tyranny is already in force. At that point failure to defend liberty makes slavery a certainty. ~ John Perna

What is FREEDOM?

The following quote appeared recently in a local paper, in a section Notable & Quoutable:

I used to think freedom was freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of conscience. But freedom is the whole life of everyone. Here is what it amounts to: you have to have the right to sow what you wish to, to make shoes or coats, to bake into bread the flour ground from the grain you have sown, and to sell it or not sell it as you wish; for the lathe operator, the steelworker, and the artist it's a matter of being able to live as you wish and work as you wish and not as they order you to. And in our country there is no freedom - not for those who write books nor for those who sow grain nor for those who make shoes.

From the novel "Forever Flowing" by Russian novelist Vasily Grossman (1970)

"Fear" by General George S Patton Jr.

I am that dreadful, blighting thing,

Like rat holes to the flood.

Like rust that gnaws the faultless blade,

Like microbes to the blood.


I know no mercy and no truth,

The young I blight, the old I slay.

Regret stalks darkly in my wake,

And ignominy dogs my way.


Sometimes, in virtuous garb I rove,

With facile talk of easier way;

Seducing where I dare not rape,

Young manhood, from it's honor's sway.


Again, in awesome guise I rush,

Stupendous, through the ranks of war,

Turning to water, with my gaze,

Hearts that, before, no foe could awe.


The maiden who has strayed from right,

To me must pay the mead of shame.

The patriot who betrays his trust,

To me must owe his tarnished name.


I spare no class, nor cult, nor creed,

My course is endless through the year.

I bow all heads and break all hearts,

All owe me homage -- I am FEAR.

http://allpoetry.com/poem/8600819-Fear-by-General_George_S_Patton_Jnr

On This Day

Who is the author of these encouraging words? Why many insightful serious thoughts are by Author Unknown? Do we have a very short memory for what is GOOD, and forever remember EVIL?

 

On This Day

On this day: fight for a principle.

Express your gratitude.

Overcome an old fear.

Take two minutes to appreciate the beauty of nature.

Tell someone you love them.

Tell them again … and again.

On this day: write a letter to someone who misses you.

Encourage a youth who has lost faith.

Keep a promise.

Forget an old grudge.

Examine your demands on others and vow to reduce them.

On this day: mend a quarrel.

Search out a forgotten friend.

Dismiss a suspicion, and replace it with trust.

                     __________________
                            ____________
                                    ____

Beauty vs. Obstacle

 

“To some people a tree is something so incredibly beautiful that it brings tears to the eyes. To others it is just a green thing that stands in the way.” ~ William Blake

Can you help the poor by destroying the rich?

"You cannot help people permanently by doing for them, what they could and should do for themselves." The quote on the calendar did not mention the author. 

The words intrigued me enough to search for a person who said it. Thankfully, Daily Celebrations site offers a clear answer with interesting details. There I learned that, at times, William J.H. Boetcker's quotations were erroneously credited by some to President Abraham Lincoln.

Presbyterian minister William J.H. Boetcker (1873-1962) was born in Hamburg, Germany. He lectured around the United States about the hard work and character that leads to success. 

In 1916 he published a motivational pamphlet "Ten Cannots." Not surprisingly, almost a century  later, Boetcker's wisdom is especially relevant. He also came up with "Seven National Crimes." Almost 100 years later, Boetcker's wisdom still applies. According to the Wikipedia, Rev. Boetcker was raised in Erie, Pennsylvania and ordained in Brooklyn, New York.

"He was an eloquent motivational speaker, and is often regarded today as the forerunner of such contemporary "success coaches" as Anthony Robbins." ~ Wikipedia

• You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.
• You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
• You cannot help little men by tearing down big men.
• You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer.
• You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.
• You cannot establish sound security on borrowed money.
• You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.
• You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than you earn.
• You cannot build character and courage by destroying men's initiative and independence.
• And you cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they can and should do for themselves.

"Seven National Crimes."

1. I don’t think.
2. I don’t know.
3. I don’t care.
4. I am too busy.
5. I leave well enough alone.
6. I have no time to read and find out.
7. I am not interested.

"Never mind what others do. Do better than yourself, beat your own record from day to day, and you are a success."

~ William J. H. Boetcker (1873-1962)

Arthur Schopenhauer about Conformism

'We forfeit three-fourths of ourselves in order to be like other people.' ~ Arthur Schopenhauer