A brief history of American resistance
We have very little time for sorrow. Weeping and gnashing of teeth will take too much effort and too much time away from the important business now laid directly on the path before us. For now is the time to double efforts and to further organize our resistance.
The purpose of the words I place before you is to give Sunday’s provocative event, and our reactions to it, an historical perspective. While we are patriots all, it is my argument that too many are the product of an education that lacks in the details of our unique nation’s struggle in its idea, birth and then beginning. We have grown used to our modern world that gives us too much too soon. We, therefore, have lost patience and understanding that to combat a well organized and powerful front takes time. Think, therefore, that the past year has been our boot camp and scouting expedition. For I don’t think too many Americans now have a benign view of the opposition. Those 219 members of the House of Representatives have flown their true colors. We now know who and what the enemy is. That, for us, is a gift.
Let us examine the timeline of events that occurred before the American Revolution began.
Many of our fellow citizens have organized a movement called the Tea Party which is named after the event that occurred on December 16, 1773 in Boston. The original occurrance took place after years of arguments, small demonstrations, a bit of violence and brash acts by the king and parliament that curtailed the rights of the colonists after they complained, vociferously, about the new taxes levied for the sake of paying off the Seven Years War (French and Indian War, 1756-1763.) The colonist argued that they should not be subject to such taxes since they had not voted for or felt the need for the war. In other words it was a European argument that came to blows with the fighting spilling over to America. True, many Americans, at that time British subjects, fought for the crown during this conflict, and the irony is, of course, such leaders of the American Revolution like Washington, received their military training from that war. In addition to the military experience gained as a result of the F & I War, Washington made many new friends and many of these friends came together to organize the Continental Army a dozen years later. Therefore, it can be said that Britain laid the groundwork for her own loss of her prized jewel, the American colonies. The war ended in 1763. The soldiers returned to their homes, farms and businesses. And then a new chapter began.
Parliament passed the Sugar Tax in 1764. It was actually an amendment of the an older tax, dated 1733. The result of this tax was to wreak havoc on the American economy. The next year, the infamous Stamp Tax is passed. The hue and cry raised by the colonist caused its repeal in 1766. In 1767 new taxes are passed, and once again, there is protest. With this bill came the idea that Americans must quarter British Regulars. In New York, the assembly refused to rubber stamp this so the British governor suspended the assembly. In 1768. Massachusetts joined in the protest and its assembly is dissolved for its refusal to collect the taxes. Boston colonist added to this resistance by denying quarter to British Regulars. In 1769. Virginia’s assembly is shut down for protesting treason trials held in London.
By 1770, the colonists have six years of protesting under their belts and still the British government will not be moved to address their grievances.
My fellow Americans, do you think you have put that much time and effort into our own protesting? Obama became the thorn in our side when he won the election 18 months ago. He is bolstered by a majority in the congress so is it any surprise that he has won this round?
Let us continue with our timeline.
In 1770 the Boston Massacre takes place. Two years later, Samuel Adams organizes his Committees of Correspondence and openly, the talk of secession begins. The parliament in London does remove much of the taxes on imports but keeps the tea tax. Thus the Boston Tea Party of 1773. In 1774 Britain closed Boston’s harbor as a punitive measure. In 1775, the shooting war begins.
That means 11 years of protesting and organizing before the situation truly exploded. But wait, we are not finished. The actual war took another 8 years (1775 – 1783.)
Let us now cease our sorrow and turn our thoughts to the actions we must take, and will take for the years to come. For not only the infamous “health reform” must be overturned, there are many other laws and regulations that offend the citizens of the United States of America. Too much muddled headed thinking has wreaked havoc resulting in all sorts of ideas that cause our Founders to roll over in their graves. To turn this situation around will take years. Therefore, let us cease our weeping, gird our wills and focus our minds on the task ahead of us. Resistance is not futile. It is the American Way.
