Tomas and I on a field exercise, we were also given the privilege of being in the same squad for FTX.
One of these movies we showed him was Mel Gibson's "The Patriot." For those that aren't familiar with "The Patriot," it is the story of a man's fight against Great Britain as a militia Colonel while also trying to juggle being a father during the war for our independence. I had a truly remarkable moment when Tom asked me during the movie "where do these guys get the guns from?" I instantly knew what Tom was asking. In Lithuania, the citizens are not allowed to own guns and in order to even go hunting they must go through strict, thorough, and almost impossible government red tape to be authorized to use a firearm for any reason, let alone own one.
Tom was asking where the people were allowed to get their guns from, and I told Tom the truth. In the early days of this nation, right up till we were actually a "nation," our Founding Fathers and other colonists possessed and used personally-owned firearms for protection and as a means to provide food. Firearms were a common part of everyday life, and I didn't realize it until now but in "The Patriot" you can see traces of this fact in the movie. In the movie, colonists are always carrying firearms or have one by their side, even in non-military situations. From standing watch on the porch at night, to driving a carriage into town to go to church, you can see right away that firearms were a common part of everyday life. In fact, Thomas Jefferson once remarked that whenever he went for a walk he packed a pistol for personal protection to keep his mind at ease. Firearms were regarded as protection devices and tools, and used correctly they could save your life or provide for it.
This brings me back to Tom's original question. Tom was amazed that the citizens were able to resist their tyrannical government and he was especially surprised that the citizens all had guns. Obviously "The Patriot" is a movie, but even with the special effects and dramatic plot line I believe the movie captured the concept of firearms and the citizenry. Not only did our Founding Fathers have guns, they used them against their tyrannical government to earn something greater than themselves: FREEDOM. This all sounds like patriotic rhetoric, but ladies and gentlemen we cannot forget what has been done for us so that we may live.
We have firearms so that we can protect ourselves from any threat or threats that would try to take our freedoms, our safety, or our lives from us. I am always amazed that people debate whether the 2nd Amendment was intended for private citizens to own firearms, do those people not know the history of this country?
I love my country and I am proud of our history. Ladies and gentlemen, we have a unique history unlike the history of any nation on earth. No joke. For the first time in all recorded human history, men came together and agreed on how to be governed, and they decided to be governed by themselves. No aristocracy, no king, no queen, no divine right, no monarchy. FREEDOM. We have something to be proud of fellow Americans, remember our history.
I rarely bring God into anything political, but I do have several key beliefs with God in terms of this great country. A group of colonists got together, took a stand against tyranny, and went to war with the most powerful nation on earth at the time. We had almost no chances of success whatsoever. As much as we all claim to hate the French, we undoubtedly could not have survived the fight without France. At the time, France was a rival with Great Britain in terms of military superiority and power, and at the time they assisted us with supplies, material, and personnel so that we could win. But with the tenacity and resolve of freedom-deprived colonists and French support, I believe there was also something else at work during the American Revolutionary War.
This is one of my most favorite paintings of all time. General Washington is praying at Valley Forge. I love this painting because it shows the inseparable marriage of God and the founding of our country along with possibly the greatest man of power to ever live.
Luckily through circumstance and what I recognize and believe to be divine intervention, we WON and not only did we defeat the most powerful military in the world, we set up a government ran by the people and for the people, and this country became the most powerful and charitable country on earth today. It is my profound belief that God ordained the creation of this country, to be the nation to carry his banner, to be the most-perfect country humanity could possibly create.
Now back to reality, I will admit we are not perfect. "One Nation under God" does not always seem so, especially in these times when everything must be politically correct. But I do believe that God had a hand in the creation of this country, the more I look into the desperate chances of success we had during the American Revolution, the more I believe it to be so. We have something special here, we have FREEDOM. I urge you to enjoy your freedoms, but also importantly I want you to remember the sacrifices made so that we can have these freedoms. All in all it is not a piece of paper that secures our freedoms, it is the sacrifices and horrific suffering of those that came before us that have allowed us to live as we do. Enjoy your freedoms, take pride in your country and citizenship, and GOD BLESS AMERICA.
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