Patrick Henry, Is life to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?

By Tina Didreckson
Published April 24, 2013 at 10:39pm
Modified April 24, 2013 at 10:57pm

It is vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, peace! But there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!

Patrick Henry, Give me liberty, or give me death speech, 1775

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Tina Didreckson

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Tina Didreckson, first read the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, Federalist Papers and Bill of Rights in 1980 before she voted in her first primary. Didreckson is employed as Historian, Researcher and IT person for a local history museum. She is also the coordinator of Horizontal Grandeur, a national fine art exhibition which celebrates life on the the prairies of North America. Having been around PCs since 1981, she is a go-to person for computer questions, an avid Photoshop user, Social Media maven, and webmaster/board member for several non-profits including her granddaughter's 501(c)3 corporation, the Erin Tanner Liver Foundation. Fiercely independent, Didreckson is also a sculptor, potter, mixed media artist and owner of Prairie Fire Studios.