- Many years ago, it was a common American tradition for
fathers to take their family to see ALL the historic sites illustrating
America's foundations. These are the visible roots of America's great beginning.
This tradition is quickly fading into the collage often called Americana.
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- (Liberty Bell in Philadelphia - Courtesy of
Google images)
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- Like many millions of Americans -- I touched this very
bell some 40 years ago as a child. It was not roped off at the time --
it was located in a small room on the ground floor of Independence Hall.
This Hall wasn't just old, but had that unique "old smell" of
wood you never forget. That old, darkened wood was put there over 200+
years ago by hard working, leathery hands. Working without any power tools,
they undoubtedly knew some of our founding fathers on a personal basis.
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- As a child, my small fingers plunged deeply into that
Bell's crack. It was worn smooth from the fingers of millions of people
who did the same thing before me. I tried to knock on it with my small
knuckles thinking a sound could be heard. It is as solid as a rock. As
you can see above, now it is roped off. No one can touch this museum piece.
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- After all, you must not touch it - some of that precious
freedom the Liberty Bell represents just might rub off on you like it did
on me. This bell isn't just a few tons of bronze -- it is a living symbol
of America's FREEDOM and a part of our country's roots. This is something
that illegal aliens will never understand. If these people didn't appreciate
their home country's roots enough to stay there and create change - why
would they appreciate America's foundation
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- This bell also represents what government was formed
to be -- Liberty - not what it has mutated into. Think I'm old fashioned?
Darn right I am. And I'll die that way, probably sooner than later.
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- The United States government has in many people's minds
the same level of mystical existence as the internet. Internet service
is no mystery, and is actually a widely distributed collection of incredibly
fast classified NSA computers at secret locations which do the actual routing.
No mystery there.
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- But what about government? What is it? Is government
a collection of massive stone buildings, most of which are intentionally
modeled in some way after King Solomon's temple? No, it isn't that either.
Government buildings are just like church buildings -- take the PEOPLE
away and what's left? Just an empty building. Period.
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- So who are these people that constitute what we know
as America's government? Are they "special" people who come from
some mysterious place? Of course not. Most are your friends, your neighbors,
perhaps even a relative or two. To these public servants, working for the
government is just another job, not unlike any job you may have or had.
That's how they look at it.
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- Having been a defense contractor for 20+ years and having
seen it work from the inside up close and personal, I can tell you this
is a fact. Yes, there are a few employees here and there that work on their
own time "off the clock" because of their dedication. But most
of the time, this happens only with new hires. There are those who take
their job very seriously and want to make a difference. Kudos to these
fine Americans who strive in this way. These are they who will help correct
the deformation of the government. After the new hire aura wears off, most
resign themselves to put in their required years of service to hopefully
retire with the highest GS salary rating possible (and corresponding retirement
salary.)
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- Perhaps you're saying, "I know most of this. What's
your point?" The point is this -- the next time you are out evangelizing
patriotism (or pondering doing so) remember to educate ALL the people you
know. Don't be too hard on them, because they only know the paradigm they
currently exist in. You can pry them loose from it by educating them slowly
and methodically, to open their eyes to the truth you now know. But always
remember back to the time when YOU were living in their paradigm. Think
about what it was that pried YOU loose from those invisible shackles of
the mind -- what was it that took your blinders off?
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- TAKE YOUR FAMILY TO GO SEE IT IN PERSON
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- Make certain that you take your family to Washington
to see the National Archives where the actual Constitution, Declaration
of Independence and Bill of Rights are on display. Take them to the Lincoln
Memorial, the Air and Space museum to see the actual Apollo and other spacecraft,
historic airplanes, Philadelphia and other historic places that are part
of what we are, not what we,ve been led to believe. Visit Gettysburg, PA.
just north of the Maryland border. It's all free. As a taxpayer, YOU already
paid for it.
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- Go to Richmond, Virginia to see the very spot in the
church where Patrick Henry stood up, gave a speech about freedom and ended
it with "give me liberty of give me death!" You can feel his
presence there. Did you know almost all of the signer's of the Declaration
of Independence were there the very day he gave the speech, including George
Washington?
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- (Photo- author's family August 2004. All photos
were taken by permission.)
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- This tour guide at the church is dressed in authentic
Marine attire of the time (and a retired Marine himself.) You can see by
his expression he's quite dedicated to his work, despite the heat of August!
He is a WONDERFUL source of inspiration for children, too. He will gladly
recite Patrick Henry's entire speech from beginning to end, and do it flawlessly.
It's worth the trip just to see and hear him do it! I plan to go there
again to record the speech later this year, and post it on my website.
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- Remember at the time when Patrick Henry gave that speech,
the King REQUIRED ALL CITIZENS to attend church every week. This was not
optional. When Patrick gave that speech, the colony was still under the
King's thumb. This church had no heat for the cold winters (it is cold
enough to snow in Richmond,) or air conditioning for the sweltering Virginia
summer heat. Everyone was forced to rent their pews, which still have the
tall doors with latches mounted near the floors. Ushers slid the bolts
to lock them just before services began. This was to make sure people stayed
for the duration of the service, which often went on for two or three hours.
Community meetings like the one Patrick Henry attended were often held
in churches like this one, too.
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- This silver plaque marks the pew where Patrick
Henry gave his famous speech. It is located about 4ft. off floor on the
top edge of the pew door. People of Henry's day averaged about 5ft. tall.
Plaque was donated by Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) circa
1921
(Photo -- by author)
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- Front of St. John's Episcopal Church -- Richmond
VA.
- This large, still functioning church can easily
seat
- 250 people. (Photo -- by author)
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- Go visit all the sites you possibly can while they are
still there. Sadly, there is no guarantee they will always exist. It's
the job of every citizen to KNOW what legal US government is. Learn what
your real roots are. This is the REAL AMERICA that every citizen must come
to know and love. You,ll be glad you went.
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- If we don't learn to love our counrty, we will lose
it to a police state.
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- Ted Twietmeyer
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- www.data4science.net
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