Sunshine Patriots

 I was emailing  a blog friend this morning

 and shared some thoughts:

These are the times… I’ve been thinking a lot about those words lately.

"summer soldiers and sunshine patriots”

It could have been written about Americans today not just in 1776

“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” 

Thomas Paine

My soul feels like it is being nibbled on by forces out of my control. 

I don’t enjoy the sensation. Not one damn bit. 

But I’m still here. I still care about the world I am leaving-

still believe there is enough goodness in humanity to make it all work. 

Teetering at times toward hopelessness 

but that is borne out of frustration more than a loss of faith.

I refuse to be a sunshine patriot- 

Only fighting when it is easy, only sacrificing when it is easy.

Freedom is hard won, hard kept - 

Not trying, is denying all those who lost everything

 for the freedoms we have now; 

still not enough for many, but within reach. 

If we only just try, care, reach, give,

 just a little more, for a little longer.

Z