Thomas Paine

Two days before Christmas in 1776, Thomas Paine wrote these words in The Crisis. "THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated."

There is no doubt in my mind that we're fighting against a form of tyranny today. While our terrorist enemies do not have the power of government to pass laws limiting our freedom, their aim is to bring everyone under the authority of their interpretation of Islam. To that end, they use terror to try to dishearten those who oppose them. We cannot afford to falter in this battle. Freedom is worth the price.