Lives, Fortunes, and Sacred Honor

When the founders of our revolution pledged their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor to the cause of liberty, it was no idle vow. Some lost everything—dying in battle, seeing their homes destroyed, or spending their final years in financial ruin. All risked not just their own safety but the well-being of their families in pursuit of a nation free from tyranny. The decision to take that pledge required courage beyond measure.

We are fortunate that such courage was not rare during that critical chapter of our nation’s history. Without it, America might have remained shackled under tyranny, and freedom would have been but a forbidden dream—an abstract ideal with no real form.

Such courage is difficult to find these days among our chosen leaders. Many have grown complacent, taking their freedoms and liberties for granted. Today’s generations are far removed from a time when freedom and liberty were not realities but distant dreams. We witness almost daily the slow erosion of those very freedoms—an erosion that, if left unchallenged by courageous people, could one day erase them altogether.

A recent and disturbing example of a lack of courage occurred last week when the Trump Administration suspended a law firm’s security clearances, terminated its federal contracts, and barred its employees from entering federal government buildings. The action threatened to shut down a private firm and push it out of business. The reason? A lawyer at the firm had participated in legal efforts to hold Donald Trump accountable for alleged crimes committed after his presidency. While those folks blinded by their unwavering loyalty to Trump may see this as justified retribution, the broader impact is chilling. The message came through loud and clear: either conform and cooperate with the Trump Administration—or risk losing your personal fortune.

Rather than resisting this obvious abuse of power, the law firm chose to comply, prostrating themselves before a man with ambitions to become America’s first emperor. They were unwilling to dedicate their lives, fortunes, or sacred honor to confront a growing tyrannical threat. Instead, they retreated in the face of tyranny, effectively spitting at our nation's founders.

This is part of a disturbing pattern we now see in nearly every corner of government. Republican politicians will privately admit to reporters that they’re uneasy with the creeping authoritarianism in Washington—but they will not risk their precious political careers to prevent a national disaster. It’s as if they see the growing headlights of an approaching train, and instead of stepping aside, they stubbornly anchor themselves on the track, turn their backs to the threat racing toward them, and gaslight themselves into believing that the roar of the oncoming engine is merely the noise from people with Trump Derangement Syndrome.

Throughout history, our nation has been tested. And we are fortunate that each time, heroes emerged to pull us through the darkness. Their names are familiar: Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, Franklin Roosevelt, Harriet Tubman, Martin Luther King, César Chávez, and many more. We read about them in history books—books that, for the time being, can still be found online or in your local library.

The problem today is that we’re not seeing that same level of bravery from those in national leadership. A few members of Congress still hold the line, but their numbers are far too small to impact the course of history.

That doesn’t mean all is lost. It means we must look beyond the halls of Congress for our modern-day heroes. And indeed, they are there. They are the ones protesting in the streets, writing letters to the editor, talking with their representatives, standing on rooftops, and shouting messages of anti-tyranny. You see them waving signs on overpasses, braving police lines, and refusing to be silent.

These are the heroes who will make the difference.

History is watching. It will remember the courageous who stood up as well as the cowards who ran away. Generations before us fought to acquire and maintain the freedoms we enjoy. It is now our turn to stand up and participate in America’s continual struggle for freedom and liberty. This is our time. This is our fight.