DON'T TREAD ON ME!

It's been a long time since many of us had our history lessons, but in light of today's threat of tyranny, a refresher course or two might be handy. Recently, I have read some pretty remarkable writings, which invigorates me to continue the fight to preserve our Constitution, Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights, written by men who had lived under tyranny and knew their history well.

This is a moving piece from Chuck Norris:

Don't Tread on Me!

by Chuck Norris, September 22, 2009

Sept. 12 was an amazing day, as thousands marched on Washington seeking to unite Americans and make a stand against tyranny and oppression. At the same time, the Tea Party Express escorted a number of patriots to the U.S. Capitol to culminate its cross-country rallies.

But what's next? I have an idea.

What I loved about the 9/12 idea is that it was a nonpolitical, nonpartisan movement. The 9-12 Project was designed to bring Americans back to the place where we were Sept. 12, 2001 -- the day after America was attacked by terrorists. We were not concerned then with red states, blue states or political parties. We were united as Americans, standing together to protect our nation.

On Sept. 12, 2001, we sought to protect our nation against terrorists from without. Beginning on Sept. 12, 2009, we are seeking to protect our nation against enemies of our republic from within. Many of us are protesting the present political direction of Washington. Outrageous borrowing, excessive bailouts, massive spending, speedball stimulus plans, universal hell care and swings toward socialism are just a few of the things that were protested that day. Of course, economics is far from America's only problem, as large as it appears to loom.

I want to emphasize: This revolutionary movement is not solely an independent, Republican or Democratic fight. It represents patriots who are fed up against modernists who seek to overturn almost every principle and tenet laid down by our country's Founding Fathers at the inception of our republic. From the East Coast to the "Left Coast," America seems to be moving farther and farther from its Founders' vision and government.

For example, George Washington advised, "The great rule of conduct for us in regard to foreign nations is, in extending our commercial relations, to have with them as little political connection as possible." Yet despite presidential campaign promises, we slowly are pulling out of Iraq but are escalating missions in Afghanistan. And the Obama administration also pledged $900 million in U.S. taxpayer-funded aid to Hamas-controlled Gaza and Mahmoud Abbas' Palestinian Authority.

On another front, as I've mentioned before, Thomas Jefferson counseled us, "We must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt." Yet the feds have caused our national deficit and debt to skyrocket by trillions of dollars, and they plan much more fiscal expansion, with seemingly few expectations of resistance. Despite the fact that George Washington admonished us that "to contract new debts is not the way to pay for old ones," we keep borrowing and bailing.

Regarding political accountability, Patrick Henry taught that our "Constitution is ... an instrument for the people to restrain the government." Yet Washington politicians trample that founding document by their actions, bypassing its mandates, spinning its words to justify their choices, abandoning its balance of power, and instead using it to accommodate their own desires, partisan politics and runaway spending.

John Adams declared, "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people." Yet we've bastardized the First Amendment, reinterpreted America's religious history, denied our Christian heritage, and secularized our society, and now we ooze skepticism and circumvent religion on every level of public and private life.

And sadly, much of this has escalated in a single year, since our new president took office.

It is no surprise, therefore, that "tea parties" have transformed into town hall revolts, cross-country town criers, 9/12 movements, the Tea Party Express and a proliferation of protests on the Internet. Washington can decry all of these as organized partisan resistance, but the fact of the matter is that everyday common citizens and patriots across this country are fed up with the Fed, and they're not going to take it anymore.

As 9/12 concluded, we all heard many ways to keep this revolutionary movement going. But I was sitting back thinking there's one way we can take a daily stand and declare that as for me and my house, we will serve God and the republic as the Founders did.

If that describes you, then I suggest you fly some revolutionary flag in lieu of your 50-star flag over the next year. Post the 13-star Betsy Ross flag, Navy Jack or Gadsden flag ("Don't Tread on Me") or any representation that tells the story of Old Glory and makes a stand for our Founders' vision of America.

Of course, patriots know that the 50-star flag truly represents one nation under God and our Founders' republic, but modernists simply don't get it. So what do you say we make a statement by flying a different flag and educate our neighbors when they ask us, "Why are you flying that flag instead of the contemporary Stars and Stripes?" (If you insist on posting a modern USA flag, too, then get one that is tea-stained to show your solidarity with our Founders.)

Know a few other patriots? Then please pass along this vintage-flag-posting encouragement to them, as well, and make our Founders proud. And let's remind the U.S. government, "Don't tread on me!"