As fireworks are called in some parts. In honor of the thing, two versions of a quote, and a little blather.
As is my wont from time to time, I'm rewatching that immortal Ken Burns epic, The Civil War. I've talked about this series before, and last year at this time, no less, and others have said a lot about it too. And I could say lots more about it, like how the first episode is perhaps the finest piece of documentary filmmaking ever done, but instead I'll just say this:
For the last 15 years or so, I've had The Battle Cry of Freedom stuck in my head. It's my default humming music.
Now, as to the quote:
"Whence shall we expect the approach of danger? Shall some transatlantic giant step the earth and crush us at a blow? Never! All the armies of Europe and Asia could not by force take a drink from the Ohio River or make a track on the Blue Ridge in the trial of a thousand years. If destruction be our lot we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of free men, we will live forever, or die by suicide."
---Abraham Lincoln, as quoted in The Civil War
"At what point shall we expect the approach of danger? By what means shall we fortify against it? Shall we expect some transatlantic military giant to step the ocean and crush us at a blow? Never! All the armies of Europe, Asia, and Africa combined, with all the treasure of the earth (our own excepted) in their military chest, with a Bonaparte for a commander, could not by force take a drink from the Ohio or make a track on the Blue Ridge in the trial of a thousand years.
At what point, then, is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us it must spring up amongst us; it cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen we will live through all time, or die by suicide."
---Abraham Lincoln, Address Before the Young Men's Lyceum of Springfield, Illinois, January 27, 1837 (from The Complete Works of Abraham Lincoln)
Posted by Dwip at July 4, 2008 10:09 PM