Today on #MemorialDay2020, we celebrate the Americans who decided our freedom was worth their lives.

We should be ashamed then that so many people have given up that hard-won freedom for lockdowns that might not even save lives

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And some might accuse me of politicizing this #MemorialDay2020. But we should remember not only their sacrifice, but the thing that they sacrificed for: our freedom. Our greatest Americans waxed poetic about the belief that life without freedom is not worth living

But nothing speaks more eloquently to that, than the great Americans who gave their “last measure of devotion,” to give us our freedom. To throw it away so easily dishonors every single one of those honored dead

If living was all that mattered, the patriots of 1776 would not have stood up to the British. We watch a movie like Glory, where black soldiers in the civil war laid down their lives to break the bondage of slavery while repudiating their philosophy.

Look at this, my fellow Americans. This is a sample home detention order. It’s used as an alternative to prison when a person is convicted of a crime. As it indicates, the confinement in your home is rarely total. They’ll usually let you go to the market, to work...

...stuff like that. You know, essential activities. Look how similar these orders are to our lockdowns. Not identical, but damn close. We are all being treated like criminals. And these lockdowns typically violate every part of the 1st Amendment except the right to petition.

To say it goes against what almost every great American believes is no exaggeration. Think of what Patrick Henry said, “give me liberty or give me death.”

The Declaration of Independence: “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our *Lives,* our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”

The Gettysburg Address: “that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have...

“...a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

Martin Luther King: “All we say to America is, ‘Be true to what you said on paper.’ If I lived in China or even Russia, or any totalitarian country, maybe I could understand the denial of certain basic First Amendment privileges, because they hadn't committed themselves...

“...to that over there. But somewhere I read of the freedom of assembly. Somewhere I read of the freedom of speech. Somewhere I read of the freedom of the press. Somewhere I read that the greatness of America is the right to protest for right.”

Malcom X: “A man who believes in freedom will do anything under the sun to acquire, or preserve his freedom.”

Bob Marley: “Better to die fighting for freedom then be a prisoner all the days of your life.”

Thomas Jefferson: “What country can preserve its liberties if its rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance?”

Malcolm X: “If you’re not ready to die for it, put the word ‘freedom’ out of your vocabulary.”

Frederick Douglass: “Who would be free themselves must strike the blow. Better even to die free than to live slaves.”

Benjamin Franklin: “They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security.”

JFK: “Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.”

Patrick Henry: “Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God!”

John Adams: “You will never know how much it has cost my generation to preserve your freedom. I hope you will make a good use of it.”

Alexander Hamilton: “However weak our country may be, I hope we shall never sacrifice our liberties.”

Harriet Tubman: “you’ll be free or die a slave!”

Revolutionary Gen. John Stark: “Live free or die: Death is not the worst of evils.”

Okay, I cheated by including Bob Marley since I don’t think he was ever an American citizen. But he wasn’t wrong. Neither is the fictional Braveheart wrong in saying “you may take our lives but they’ll never take our freedom!”

But those pretty words were turned into action by those people we honor on #MemorialDay. And maybe memorial day isn’t set aside for people like Abraham Lincoln, but he did die for freedom. He was shot to death by a man who wanted to preserve slavery.

Likewise, Martin Luther King was not fighting a war when he was shot to death, but he was fighting for freedom. Peacefully, yes, but still fighting and he knew throughout his entire crusade that it might cost him his life.

The freedom we enjoyed several months ago and so quickly frittered away was purchased with the blood of patriots and tyrants. We dishonor that sacrifice when we let our government take our freedom.

So how do we become free again? Decide to be free. Practice civil disobedience. Open your businesses again. Go out when you feel like. Have barbecues involving 10 or more people. And remember what Martin Luther King told you.

If you do these things, our honored dead will smile down at you from heaven. Honor those who fought for our freedom, honor those who suffered for our freedom, honor those who died for our freedom, by demanding that freedom.

/end

Bonus: at the beginning of this thread, I showed images of two of my own tweets. You can see that short thread, here: https://twitter.com/aaronworthing/status/1257790349432573952?s=21 https://twitter.com/aaronworthing/status/1257790349432573952