{ My Country Tis of Thee, Sweet Land of Liberty. Of Thee I Sing... }

While driving yesterday afternoon, we saw "liberty bells," the Tea Party movement's symbol, placed in the yards of the common American people. I felt deep gratitude to those who are proudly displaying their liberty bells, showing to everyone how they have not given up - they're still fighting for their freedom - the freedom that so many died for and are still sacrificing for.

Some believe the actual Boston Tea Party in 1773 to have been a disrespectful and rebellious act. But in reality, the Boston Tea Party was done lawfully.

"By law, if cargo coming into the harbor was not unloaded within twenty days, it was legally subject to seizure." After the unloaded cargo sat in the harbor for twenty days, the people heard whoops from an Indian who was headed towards the wharf. The "Indians" asked for keys to the chests of tea and assured they would not harm the crew.

They opened 342 chests of tea for over three hours, while more than 10,000 people lined the wharf watching in complete silence as the tea was dumped overboard. Governor Hutchinson, said after watching the procession, "You could hear nothing but hatchets on the chests. Everything was quiet. It was done peacefully and lawfully. I was amazed!"

Benjamin Franklin once said, "Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God." This quote can be justified. God has given, as our Declaration of Independence states, inalienable rights. We have the God-given liberty to do what we wish with our lives, so long as we do not violate God's moral law or another man's rights. Liberty has come at a cost and it is maintained at a cost. That cost will become increasingly higher if we, as responsible citizens, do not take heed to the increasing amount of tyranny that is being imposed upon us and our businesses. The Revolutionary War was fought under the pretenses of much less governmental tyranny than what is being seen today. 

A quote that many of us are familiar with from Edmund Burke says, "All that is necessary for evil to triumph, is for good men to do nothing." Are you doing nothing?

*thought for the day:* "A free government has often been compared to a pyramid;... it is laid on the broad basis of the people." -James Wilson, Justice of the first Supreme Court