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Washington Post
31-03-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
‘Liberty or death' wasn't Patrick Henry's most important advice for Americans
On March 23, I went to Historic St. John's Church in Richmond to travel back in time. That Sunday marked the 250th anniversary of Patrick Henry's speech to the Second Virginia Convention. Henry believed war with Britain was inevitable and punctuated his call for Virginia to establish an independent militia with his declaration 'I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!' I wanted to see what it felt like to hear those words from the pews where the delegates would have absorbed them 2½ centuries ago. And in collaboration with St. John's Church, I also wanted to ask attendees what Henry's words mean to them today. The Letters and Community team will be posing questions like these in the run-up to July 4, 2026, the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of the Independence, as America looks back to its founding — and forward, as we consider how those original ideals, conflicts and words carry us into the future. Alyssa Rosenberg, letters and community editor Story continues below advertisement Advertisement The conversation we need We tend to overlook how fraught the Revolutionary period was. Those colonists who spoke for revolution, who otherwise supported and fought for revolution, risked everything. It is hard to fully grasp all they stood to lose: property, stature, livelihood and lives. Everyone understood that the British crown had the money, the power and the army to crush any resistance. We can convince ourselves that such courageous choices in the face of real personal danger were made easier because there was such camaraderie and consensus among the individuals involved. But that is not the real story. There were many bitter rivalries among the principals. Thomas Jefferson was pea-green with envy about Patrick Henry and considered him a braggart who nevertheless could move a crowd. George Mason and George Washington came to disagree intensely about a Bill of Rights for their fledgling nation and went to their dying days never speaking again. Deep divisions existed throughout all the colonies over religion, politics, ethnicity, status and class, slavery. Colonists were divided over whether resistance to the crown, much less revolution, was treasonous. The truth is that the revolutionary movement, like all great movements forward in this country, did not occur because everyone agreed. Great movements forward occur because a common cause becomes more important than individual differences and disappointments. Great courage was required by men such as Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, George Washington, George Mason and James Madison. And so were forbearance and tolerance, patience and perspective. Throughout all time and across the face of the Earth, ours is the only nation not founded on ethnicity or territory or religion. Ours is the only nation in human history founded on ideas, ideals and a system of government. When we do not know our history, when we do not care who or what came before us, when we no longer understand the foundation upon which our nation is built, then we do not know why we are Americans. And our differences — which have always existed — tear us apart, because we have no national identity that holds us together. We must reconnect Americans to who and where we come from. We must reengage Americans who do not think our founding ideals or system of government has anything to do with them. We must reinspire our fellow citizens and remind them what it means to be an American. Carly Fiorina, Lorton, Virginia The writer is the national honorary chair of the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission. This letter is adapted from her March 23 remarks at Historic St. John's Church. A forgotten line I had the privilege of portraying Patrick Henry at our reenactment of the Second Virginia Convention at Historic St. John's Church on March 23. One of the lessons that I and others in the cast hope to impart to our audiences is reflected in the first line of Henry's speech: 'No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as the abilities, of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the house.' The delegates at the convention engaged in a civil but passionate debate on Henry's resolutions to create a militia. The delegates respected one another, recognizing that all of them, even the ones who did not support Henry's resolutions, were patriots risking their lives and property simply by being present. In my opinion, civil and respectful debate is lacking in today's political discourse. I and other cast members hope the audience understood that there was a time when big ideas were discussed and debated openly without personally offending or belittling people on the other side. Henry believed it was his duty to express his opinion. He stated that otherwise, he would consider himself 'guilty of treason toward [his] country and an act of disloyalty toward the majesty of heaven,' whom he revered above 'all earthly kings.' Anyone who was offended by the peaceful demonstrators who stationed themselves on the streets outside the church and on the church grounds during the reenactment and commemoration to express their opinions about how they want to be governed might have missed the point of Henry's speech: It is our duty to be active and engaged citizens to maintain our republic and not return to a monarchy, as Benjamin Franklin cautioned in 1787 after he signed the Constitution. Witnessing the peaceful and passionate demonstration before entering the church to recreate a 250-year-old moment and speaking to attendees and others after the presentation left me hopeful that Americans are still ready to fulfill that obligation. Christopher Dunn, Richmond Story continues below advertisement Advertisement The fight for freedom That speech means the same thing to me today as the original meant to Patrick Henry 250 years ago. We the people have an obligation to defend our rights when they are being trampled on. Thank God that we don't have to do it with bayonets and muskets anymore! We are free Americans! We do it through the peaceful protests I saw outside the church, through the respectful speeches and reenactment I saw inside the church, and most important, through the ballot box. God bless America! William Benedetti, Midlothian, Virginia Freedom was very important to Patrick Henry, who lived in a time with a lot of self-governance and liked it. Unfortunately, people today take freedom for granted. Henry knew it would be very valuable, and needed to be nourished and protected vigilantly. We need to be reminded that freedom is not free. Doug Rucker, Richmond Patrick Henry was willing to take great risk and make sacrifices for the cause of liberty, and thus he played a major role in the birth of this nation. It inspires me to ask: Do we have the same courage today to stand up for liberty? H. Benson Dendy III, Richmond The writer is a member of the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission. The leaders we miss On March 23, 1775, Patrick Henry and some of the delegates to the Second Virginia Convention knew the war had already started; others, such as Edmund Pendleton, were urging patience. Henry spoke directly about the threat of tyranny. He embraced that Boston's fight was Virginia's fight. He inspired delegates to act in the name of their fledgling country. Today, a conflict is underway. It seems so sad that our leaders, whether Democratic or Republican, lack the individual courage to act with the resolve and clarity Henry displayed. Collectively, they act like sheep running to the shepherd or away from the wolf. Ultimately, the shepherd might want to eat his lambs for dinner. And the wolf might want the warmth or company of another being. These are sad times. Billy McGuire, Manakin Sabot, Virginia Story continues below advertisement Advertisement A forgotten legacy Patrick Henry's famous speech was certainly a rouser. In the Virginia history textbook I studied in my seventh-grade public school more than 60 years ago, Henry was depicted as a great hero. But it's interesting that the speech is probably a reconstructed pastiche. One line of the peroration, though unattributed, is probably borrowed, whether by Henry himself or the people who reconstructed his speech after the fact: 'Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace — but there is no peace.' This is an almost verbatim echo of two prophets of the Hebrew Bible, Jeremiah and Ezekiel. But it might be too harsh to call Henry a plagiarist. He tended to wear his religion on his sleeve, to the irritation of Thomas Jefferson, drafter of the bill that became the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom. Jefferson said his bill attempted to assure religious liberty to 'the Jew, the Gentile, the Christian, the Mahometan, the Hindoo, and [the] infidel of every denomination.' The legislation barred compelled worship, religious discrimination and public funding of religion. Henry in turn offered a bill that would have provided tax funding for 'Teachers of the Christian Religion,' though taxpayers would have been able to select the recipients of their taxes. Jefferson's ally James Madison secured passage of Jefferson's bill in the legislature. Jefferson was so proud of his statute that he named it on his tombstone as one of his three greatest accomplishments. It remains in the Virginia law books today, while Henry's famous speech is shrouded in doubt. And what might the Prince of Peace have thought of his would-be promoter's warmongering, even in service of independence? I'll go with Jefferson and real religious liberty for all. Tom Edmondson, Alexandria
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Youngkin dodges anti-DOGE protesters outside Virginia church
Patrick Henry delivered the revolutionary rally cry heard around the world: "Give me liberty or give me death!" Protesters sang their own rallying cry on Sunday, at the very site where the Founding Father urged Virginia colonists to join the American Revolution 250 years ago. After delivering remarks at the annual enactment of Henry's iconic speech, Gov. Glenn Youngkin, R-Va., was met by loud boos, "shame" chants and protest cries while exiting St. John's Church in Richmond, Virginia. Protesters held up signs like "deport Musk" and "Youngkin is a Trumpkin" as the governor was escorted through the raucous crowd by law enforcement. The "250 Years of No Kings in America" protest in Patrick Henry Park was organized by Indivisible Richmond, a group focused on "local opposition to the MAGA agenda." While Youngkin didn't stop to debate the protesters shouting at him, he addressed them during his speech inside. "There are Virginians and there are Americans who are standing up for freedom and liberty, and I just want to once again thank all of you who care so deeply about our commonwealth and our country's future. Now, you might have noticed that there are some enthusiastic friends outside. Don't worry about them because I am happy to do whatever it takes to get someone to church on Sunday," Youngkin said. Gingrich Warns Of 'Very Dangerous' Consequences As Democrats Ramp Up Resistance To Trump, Musk Youngkin – a Trump ally who rose to political fame for defending parental rights – invoked Henry's fight for freedom and liberty during his speech, as protesters danced to the tune of their own definition of democracy outside. Read On The Fox News App Democratic state Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, with a megaphone from the bed of a truck, shouted about President Abraham Lincoln's leadership during the Civil War as protesters flooded the sidewalks around the church. She spoke in front of an upside-down American flag, which under U.S. Flag Code, should only be used "as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property." Meet The Far-left Groups Funding Anti-doge Protests At Gop Offices Across The Country "We resisted King George. We will resist Trump," the flier for Sunday's protest said, comparing the resistance of President Donald Trump to the American Revolution. The Reddit user who organized the protest said: "Trump continuously violated the Constitution, declared himself the sole legal authority in the land, and called himself 'KING.' Trump must be removed from office!" While anti-Trump protesters used the anniversary of Henry's speech to resist Trump, Trump celebrated the 250th anniversary of Henry's address to the Second Virginia Convention with a proclamation. "I signed a proclamation a few minutes ago honoring the 250th anniversary of Patrick Henry's famous speech to the Second Virginia Convention in which he declared the very well-known, very famous words, 'Give me liberty or give me death.' Has anyone heard the phrase? I think most of you have," Trump said. "Give me liberty or give me death!" has been a rallying cry for protesters during the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989, by Malcom X during the Civil Rights movement and by those who opposed COVID-19 pandemic restrictions in 2020. The phrase was first used by Henry in the run-up to the American Revolution to persuade Virginia colonists to prepare for war against Great Britain. Trump evoked Henry's notorious line during his criminal trial last year. "Give me liberty or give me death," he wrote in all caps on Truth Social, after Judge Juan Merchan said he would consider jail time for Trump if he continued to violate his gag order. Protests resisting Trump's executive authority and Elon Musk's leadership of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have been staged in the two months since he returned to office. Progressive groups also hosted "Not My Presidents Day" or "No Kings Day" demonstrations on Presidents Day across the country. Democrats have increasingly accused the Trump administration of "oligarchy" and "authoritarianism." 'Not My Presidents Day' Protests Erupt Across The Country Last week, Gov. J.B. Pritzker, D-Ill., during "A Better Way Forward" conversation at the Center for American Progress, urged Democrats to fight and defend America's constitutional republic from the "incompetence" and "treachery" of President Donald Trump. The Democratic governor, who compared the current political climate to Nazi Germany during his State of the State address in February, warned of Trump's "authoritarian rule" last Tuesday. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., has drawn thousands of supporters to his "Fighting Oligarchy" rallies across the country, with record-setting West Coast stops alongside Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., over the weekend. The events are billed as an opportunity to "discuss how we take on the greed of the billionaire class and create a government that works for all and not just the few." Indivisible Richmond, Youngkin and the White House did reply to Fox News Digital's request for article source: Youngkin dodges anti-DOGE protesters outside Virginia church
Fox News
24-03-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Youngkin dodges anti-DOGE protesters outside Virginia church
Patrick Henry delivered the revolutionary rally cry heard around the world: "Give me liberty or give me death!" Protesters sang their own rallying cry on Sunday, at the very site where the Founding Father urged Virginia colonists to join the American Revolution 250 years ago. After delivering remarks at the annual enactment of Henry's iconic speech, Gov. Glenn Youngkin, R-Va., was met by loud boos, "shame" chants and protest cries while exiting St. John's Church in Richmond, Virginia. Protesters held up signs like "deport Musk" and "Youngkin is a Trumpkin" as the governor was escorted through the raucous crowd by law enforcement. The "250 Years of No Kings in America" protest in Patrick Henry Park was organized by Indivisible Richmond, a group focused on "local opposition to the MAGA agenda." While Youngkin didn't stop to debate the protesters shouting at him, he addressed them during his speech inside. "There are Virginians and there are Americans who are standing up for freedom and liberty, and I just want to once again thank all of you who care so deeply about our commonwealth and our country's future. Now, you might have noticed that there are some enthusiastic friends outside. Don't worry about them because I am happy to do whatever it takes to get someone to church on Sunday," Youngkin said. Youngkin – a Trump ally who rose to political fame for defending parental rights – invoked Henry's fight for freedom and liberty during his speech, as protesters danced to the tune of their own definition of democracy outside. Democratic state Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, with a megaphone from the bed of a truck, shouted about President Abraham Lincoln's leadership during the Civil War as protesters flooded the sidewalks around the church. She spoke in front of an upside-down American flag, which under U.S. Flag Code, should only be used "as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property." "We resisted King George. We will resist Trump," the flier for Sunday's protest said, comparing the resistance of President Donald Trump to the American Revolution. The Reddit user who organized the protest said: "Trump continuously violated the Constitution, declared himself the sole legal authority in the land, and called himself 'KING.' Trump must be removed from office!" While anti-Trump protesters used the anniversary of Henry's speech to resist Trump, Trump celebrated the 250th anniversary of Henry's address to the Second Virginia Convention with a proclamation. "I signed a proclamation a few minutes ago honoring the 250th anniversary of Patrick Henry's famous speech to the Second Virginia Convention in which he declared the very well-known, very famous words, 'Give me liberty or give me death.' Has anyone heard the phrase? I think most of you have," Trump said. "Give me liberty or give me death!" has been a rallying cry for protesters during the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989, by Malcom X during the Civil Rights movement and by those who opposed COVID-19 pandemic restrictions in 2020. The phrase was first used by Henry in the run-up to the American Revolution to persuade Virginia colonists to prepare for war against Great Britain. Trump evoked Henry's notorious line during his criminal trial last year. "Give me liberty or give me death," he wrote in all caps on Truth Social, after Judge Juan Merchan said he would consider jail time for Trump if he continued to violate his gag order. Protests resisting Trump's executive authority and Elon Musk's leadership of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have been staged in the two months since he returned to office. Progressive groups also hosted "Not My Presidents Day" or "No Kings Day" demonstrations on Presidents Day across the country. Democrats have increasingly accused the Trump administration of "oligarchy" and "authoritarianism." Last week, Gov. J.B. Pritzker, D-Ill., during "A Better Way Forward" conversation at the Center for American Progress, urged Democrats to fight and defend America's constitutional republic from the "incompetence" and "treachery" of President Donald Trump. The Democratic governor, who compared the current political climate to Nazi Germany during his State of the State address in February, warned of Trump's "authoritarian rule" last Tuesday. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., has drawn thousands of supporters to his "Fighting Oligarchy" rallies across the country, with record-setting West Coast stops alongside Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., over the weekend. The events are billed as an opportunity to "discuss how we take on the greed of the billionaire class and create a government that works for all and not just the few." Indivisible Richmond, Youngkin and the White House did reply to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
Times of Oman
21-03-2025
- Business
- Times of Oman
Trump to sign rare earth mineral deal with Ukraine 'shortly', expresses hope for Russia-Ukraine ceasefire
Washington DC: US President Donald Trump on Thursday (local time) said that he would be signing a rare earth mineral deal with Ukraine "very shortly." Ahead of signing an executive order to dismantle the Department of Education, Trump expressed optimism about a potential ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. "Our country is doing very well. Things are--as you can see--doing quite well," he said. Trump announced that he had signed an executive order to boost the production of critical minerals in the United States. "Moments ago, I signed an executive order to dramatically increase production of critical minerals and rare earths. It's a big thing in this country. We're also signing agreements in various locations to unlock rare earths and minerals, and lots of other things all over the world, but in particular, Ukraine," he said. According to the World Economic Forum, while China may not have the largest reserves of rare earth minerals, it dominates the refining process, making it the world's largest importer of critical minerals, which it processes and supplies globally. The United States, India, and Germany follow China as major importers, while the United States, Chile, Switzerland, and Australia have recorded significant increases in exports of raw, semi-processed, or processed critical minerals. Referring to his recent phone conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday, Trump expressed hope for an end to the ongoing conflict. "We're doing very well with regard to Ukraine and Russia, and one of the things we are doing is signing a deal very shortly with respect to rare earth with Ukraine. They have tremendous value in rare earth minerals. We appreciate that. We spoke yesterday with President Putin and President Zelenskyy, and we would love to see this come to an end. I think we're doing pretty well in that regard. Hopefully, we can save thousands of people a week from dying. They're dying so unnecessarily, and I believe we'll get it done. We'll see what happens, but I believe we'll get it done," he said. At a press briefing on Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the administration had "moved beyond the economic minerals deal." Leavitt explained, "It means the minerals deal was that first set of framework that you all saw in that very public meeting with President Zelenskyy and President Trump in the Oval Office. We are now focused on a long-term peace agreement." Earlier, Trump also signed a proclamation honouring the 250th anniversary of Patrick Henry's famous speech to the Second Virginia Convention. "I just want to announce that I signed a proclamation a few moments ago honouring the 250th anniversary of Patrick Henry's famous speech to the Second Virginia Convention, in which he declared the very well-known, very famous words: 'Give me liberty or give me death,'" he said. (ANI)
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Opinion - ‘What's in it for me' has gone too far, and Trump and Musk make it worse
On March 23, 250 years ago, almost four weeks before the Battle of Lexington and Concord, Patrick Henry rose at the Second Virginia Convention to call on Virginia to arm for the Revolutionary War that he saw as inevitable. He finished declaring emphatically, 'give me liberty, or give me death!' Today, Henry's speech has become a favorite of the Tea Party, MAGA and other conservative groups. They deeply misunderstand Henry, seeing his speech as simply a call for personal liberty, to do what one wants: my rights, my freedom, regardless of others. Henry's famous call-to-arms, sadly, has played a role in Americans' fixation on 'what's in it for me.' The fixation on personal liberty over the interest of others (or what Founders would have called 'license') has become a bedrock of our society and exacts a great price on our communities and all of us. Henry and the other Founders would be appalled. I was reminded of this with the flood of news and social media stories about MAGA supporters angry, bitter and confused because the Trump administration is hurting their farms, revoking their loans or business contracts, deporting family or friends, firing nurses at their VA hospital, firing friends — the list seems endless. Among the most interesting of these stories is the comment from Jesse Watters, a Fox network host. Watters, a major MAGA supporter, has cheered Trump's efforts to burn to the ground large parts of the government. But when a friend of his lost his job, Watters suddenly seemed to wake-up, as if someone had thrown cold water in his face. He reminded his listeners that we 'need to be a little bit less callous' as millions face loss of jobs, loss of business, loss of services, loss of benefits, etc. He is right, but these stories point to something even more fundamental. If you asked Americans, especially conservatives, what ails the nation, many will quickly come to talking about the decline of community. And they are right. From the loss of churches that were at the center of neighborhoods, to the decline of civic organizations that used to unite people across differences, to the sad phenomenon of 'bowling alone' (when the nation used to be filled with bowling leagues), American communities have suffered. We have turned inward, fed by the screens at which we stare. In fundamental ways, this sad phenomenon is the result of the growth of 'classic liberalism' — a focus on my rights, my interests. The alternative philosophy, prominent among America's Founders, is 'classic republicanism,' focused on service to community and human virtue. This focus on liberalism has been at the root of attacks on the federal government. Since at least Ronald Reagan, people have been fed, over and over again, the story that the government is the problem, or worse, the enemy. If a government policy does not seem like something I want, or if it is something that I don't see the need for, or something that I would not approve of, the government is wrong and needs to be cut down to size. Watters is right. We need a little compassion, a little empathy. There are many government programs that I don't need, perhaps don't want, but they are part of a government that serves neighbors and co-citizens, created by our elected representatives for the good of our people. Take, for example, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau that Elon Musk, with President Trump's apparent indifference, is seeking to eliminate. It protects vulnerable consumers from bank overcharges, fraudulent loans, and the like. The Trump administration has already dismissed several of the bureau's enforcement actions against big banks for defrauding consumers of billions of dollars. I suppose I don't need the bureau. We have financial advisers who watch these things; we only take out mortgage loans reviewed by lawyers. I suppose I could even complain that it is costing me money — some small infinitesimal part of my tax dollars (although, in fact, it has made money for taxpayers by collecting billions of dollars in fines from fraudulent financial practices). But all of this misses the point. I may not 'need' the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, but millions of Americans do — my neighbors. The same is true of almost all government functions. I don't need the Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations protecting workers from exploitative work practices, but others do. My grandfather, a steelworker, could tell horrific stories about abuses before the unions and government got involved. I don't need an educational loan now, but millions do. And these government systems strengthen our nation. Paying to educate American students, for example, makes for a more vibrant economy, a more informed electorate, a more engaged community. We all pay the price when our educational system is inadequate, and we all share the benefits when our citizenry is well-educated. Of course, this does not mean that we have to agree with everything that the government does. Or that we shouldn't work for reform and improved efficiency. Should we oppose government action of which we disapprove? Absolutely. Reform government inefficiency, locate real fraud and remove it? Overwhelming support. But indiscriminate destruction of agencies that our friends and neighbors rely upon, agencies created by Congress and signed into law, all at the direction of the richest man in the world and his enabler? It is un-American, dangerous and, as Watters belatedly realized, shows a callousness to our neighbors. Watters is right. We need to start with some compassion for our neighbors. Our communities, and our nation, depend upon it. While millions are cheering Musk's efforts to take a meat ax to the government, because they don't yet see how it will affect them (although they will, in time), we all need to try to understand how these changes impact our neighbors and communities. John Ragosta, Ph.D. JD, was formerly acting director of the Robert H. Smith International Center for Jefferson Studies at Monticello. His most recent book is 'For the People, For the Country: Patrick Henry's Final Political Battle.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
