Our Declaration of Independence, one of the greatest documents ever written, ends with these words:
“And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”
Those words, which should ring in the ears of every American are followed by 56 signatures.
Each man who affixed his name on that Declaration believed in those words and each did indeed pledge to each other their Lives, their Fortunes and their sacred Honor.
Do you think THEY…”Stood Down?”
Emphatically…They did NOT!
Did the Patriots who fought and died for the idea behind that document…”Stand Down?”
NO THEY DID NOT.
In the ice and snow of Valley Forge…Did Washington…”Stand Down?”
No.
In the years after the war of revolution, when called upon to pen the Constitution, did James Madison “Stand Down?”
No. No he did not.
In the War of 1812, when things looked darkest and the British was sacking the White House…Who “Stood Down?”
No one. In fact, Dolley Madison took the portrait of Washington from the wall and saved it…for the NEW White House.
In the quest to put an end to slavery, did Lincoln “Stand Down?”
The burden of the war between the states was great but, no…NO HE DID NOT “stand Down.”
Our country is FULL of people who never “Stood Down” and it always has been. From those who, with an idea and firm resolve gave birth to this great nation, fought for it, died for it and settled it to those who built it, powered it, explored it and added to it.
Did those who came here from lands far away, who felt free upon seeing Lady Liberty and who learned the language and our culture to make a better life for themselves, their children and their children’s children “Stand Down?”
Certainly not.
His advisers told him not to say it, they told him not to use the line in his speech. It was too forceful they told him…It would be upsetting.
Well, well, well…
And so the first presidential debate of 2012 is in the books.