Civil Disobedience...

You've perhaps heard about "The Shot Heard 'Round the World."  Or maybe you haven't.  

History of this sort is not always taught in our schools any more.  Sadly.  

But just in case you haven't, it started the Revolutionary War.  And we, you and me, are the result.

On the night of April 18th, 1775, hundreds of British troops set off from Boston toward Concord, Massassachuusettts, in order to seize weapons and ammunition supposedly stockpiled there by American colonists (sound familiar?).  Early the next morning, the British reached Lexington, where approximately 70 Minutemen had gathered on the village green.  Someone suddenly fired a shot - it's not certain by which side - and a melee ensued.  When the brief clash had ended, eight Americans lay dead and at least an equal amount were injured, while one redcoat was wounded.  The Brits continued on to nearby Concord, where that same day they encountered armed resistance from a group of patriots at the town's Old North Bridge.  Gunfire was exchanged, including the first, the "Shot Heard 'Round the World," leaving two colonists and three redcoats dead.  Afterward, the British retreated back to Boston, skirmishing with the colonial militiamen along the way and suffering a number of casualties; the Revolutionary War had just begun...

Why did the colonists choose to take on their own government?  That era's only superpower?  They blanched at the idea of ever-increasing taxation.  So much so that they began to contemplate "civil disobedience."  Meaning, protesting laws and rules and regulations they found offensive, unfair, or illegal if they were successful, and armed resistance to British overreach if they weren't.  

When the Brits learned of this, they immediately began to seek out and seize the colonists firearms and ammunition (sound familiar?).  They had learned that a cache of arms and ammo might be in Lexington and they simply could not abide an armed citizenry (sound familiar?).  And so they attacked.  

You might be surprised to learn that about half of the colonists back then were loyal British subjects.  They were just fine being subservient to Britain, as they'd known no other life.  They did not want war.  Yet, the Brits had never learned an important lesson: You simply cannot lead The People unless The People willingly submit to that leadership.  And that's why the other half of the colonists, those who desired freedom, decided to protest.  To revolt.  And when their demands were not met, to take up arms.  And by then, the British had so enraged the colonists that the other half had joined them in revolt...

You know the rest.  We demanded our freedom.  We were forced to fight the Brits to gain it, and the Brits lost.  America was the result.

Why do I bring this up now?  Look around.  We are "sequestered at home," which is a euphemism for "home confinement."  We are ordered not to assemble, yet the freedom to assemble is emblazoned in the 1st Amendment to the Constitution.  We are ordered not to attend worship services, yet the freedom of religion, and to also practice it, is likewise guaranteed by that same Amendment.  Mayors and governors may not simply erase our Rights via an "executive order," or any other mechanism.  Those self-same mayors and governors were elected By The People, and govern at their consent; it is Not the other way around.  

Yes, we must accede to reason and "socially distance," and wear a mask when wearing a mask is necessary.  National crises occur; yet those crises do not subvert the very Constitution upon which our Great Country is founded.  We may not be ordered around like so many sheep.  We will be reasonable and cooperate, so long as the choice to cooperate is left up to us, the electorate.  Enough, as they say, is enough.

For all those barbers and hair stylists and restauranteurs and surfers and shop keepers out there, fight back.  Take the cities and states to court that try their best to make you cower in fear.  A pox on those who try to make you hide in the corner and await their next proclamation.  You will win.  Because they are assuming the authority they desire, even though they do not have the authority they seek.  

Today is Memorial Day.  On this day we remember those who gave their lives so that we could live in freedom.  Ask yourselves; are we making them proud?