[MD] Values to die for

[Platt Holden]

Hi All,

As mentioned earlier, today is Independence Day in the U.S, a day in 
which we celebrate the signing of The Declaration of Independence. The 
56 men who signed the document pledged "Our Lives, our Fortunes, and 
our sacred Honor." In doing so, they put it all on the line, fully 
realizing if their cause failed, they would be hanged. Even though they 
prevailed in the end, five of the signers were captured during the war 
by the British as traitors and tortured before they died. Twelve had 
their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost sons in the war and another 
had two sons captured. Nine fought and died from wounds or hardships of 
the war. Whatever price the signers paid, none considered it too steep 
and none repudiated their beliefs. 

I can't help but wonder if many of us would put our lives and the lives 
of our loved ones on the line for our values as the Founding Fathers 
did. Since much of what we have and know we take for granted, having 
required little effort on our part, I fear we may not value our 
heritage of individual rights enough to fight and die for them, whether 
challenged within or without.

As Thomas Paine, a fiery figure in the American Revolution, wrote, 
"What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only 
that gives every thing its value."

Something for we students of values to ponder.

Best,
Platt