On December 23, 1776, Thomas Paine wrote, "These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph..."
At that time, America was at war to establish itself as the first nation governed by the rule of law. Not the whims of a king or tyrant, but government codified by law of the people, by the people and for the people.
We are now in the beginning of a war to determine if we will remain a nation governed by law or collapse into anarchy. There are elements within our society seeking to undermine our freedom, our Constitution, and our way of life.
When ISIS jihadists call for attacks upon American law enforcement and military - and it happens - you have to wonder. When the Black Panthers say they will creep up and kill cops - and it happens - you have to wonder... but at what point do we stop wondering if we have a problem and take action?
That point is now. These are the times that try men's souls. This is not the time to quit or give up. This is the time to speak up and stand up. This is the time to support the rule of law and those who defend it.
I've read of police cadets dropping out of their academies and quitting because of the violence spreading across the Nation. "Good riddance", I say. "We can't afford cowards and quitters in this time of crisis." Cause when I go to work every night, I don't know if I'll be coming back when the sun comes up. I need to know that the people out there with me have got my back cause when the fight happens, I plan on being right in the middle of it.
This is not the time to be discouraged or down-hearted. These are the times that whisper, "You cannot withstand this storm", but the warriors whisper back, "I am the storm."
There's a storm coming. See, I believe most people in America are good, solid, citizens who believe in freedom and the rule of law. I believe that if we stand together, we will create a storm that will overshadow and drive out the evil in our land. We just need enough of us to wake up to the fact we are at war. Our military and law enforcement personnel are being targeted and assassinated on the streets of our nation. These are the times that try men's souls, but we will not quit... we will not back down... and we are never out of the fight.
I'm reminded of another dark time in American history - The Battle of the Bulge. (Ironically, this story comes from the night of December 23, 1944, exactly 168 years to the day after Thomas Paine's trying times)
"Late on the night of December 23rd, 1944, Sergeant John Banister of the 14th Cavalry Group found himself meandering through the village of Provedroux, southwest of Vielsalm. He'd been separated from his unit during the wild retreat of the first days and joined up with Task Force Jones, defending the southern side of the Fortified Goose Egg. Now they were in retreat again. The Germans were closing in on the village from three sides. American vehicles were pulling out, and Banister was once again separated from his new unit, with no ride out.
A tank destroyer rolled by; somebody waved him aboard and Banister eagerly climbed on. They roared out of the burning town. An hour later they reached the main highway running west from Vielsalm. There they found a lone soldier digging a foxhole. Armed with bazooka and rifle, unshaven and filthy, he went about his business with a stoic nonchalance. They pulled up to him and stopped.
He didn't seem to care about the refugees. "If yer lookin for a safe place," he said, "just pull that vehicle behind me. I'm the 82nd Airborne. This is as far as the bastards are going."
The men on the tank destroyer hesitated. After the constant retreats of the last week, they didn't have
much fight left in them. But the paratrooper's determination was infectious. "You heard the man," declared Lt. Rogers. "Let's set up for business!" Twenty minutes later, two truckloads of GIs joined their little roadblock. All through the night, men trickled in, and their defenses grew stronger.""
These are the times that try men's souls, so if you're looking for a safe place, the stand behind me because this is as far as the bastards are coming.
