Q: Quotes

“When in the course of human Events, it becomes necessary for one People to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness….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.”

It wasn’t planned this way, but the post on the American history quotes used in Across the Stars has fallen at a most appropriate time. Independence is a major theme in Across the Stars, things about American independence frequently quoted, and for independence week it is a perfect subject.

In chapter five, Sara Watson gives a speech rallying the Emarotians to fight for independence. This speech begins with Sara quoting a famous line from Patrick Henry, “I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death.” Sara also quotes the Declaration of Independence, including the line, “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.” America’s founding fathers really did give up their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. By voting to declare independence, they were declaring themselves to be traitors. The punishment for treason was to be hung by the neck until unconscious, revived, disemboweled, quartered, and scattered so that they would have no final resting place. This is what America’s founding fathers were facing. This is what would happen to them if they were caught.

My fictional Emarotians were willing to face torture and death in order to gain independence from tyranny. They were inspired by the things the Watsons quoted from American history. It is time for Americans to be inspired by these things, to be willing once more to give their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor, so that we may be free.