A Poem and Reminders
“So I sit and write and ponder, while the house is deaf and dumb,
Seeing visions “over yonder” of the war I know must come.
In the corner – not a vision – but a sign for coming days
Stand a box of ammunition and a rifle in green baize.
And in this, the living present, let the word go through the land,
Every tradesman, clerk and peasant should have these two things at hand.
No – no ranting song is needed, and no meeting, flag or fuss –
In the future, still unheeded, shall the spirit come to us!
Without feathers, drum or riot on the day that is to be,
We shall march down, very quiet, to our stations by the sea.
While the bitter parties stifle every voice that warns of war,
Every man should own a rifle and have cartridges in store!
— Henry Lawson, 1907
“We have four boxes used to guarantee our liberty: the soap box, the ballot box, the jury box and the cartridge box.”
— Unknown
“They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety, and in the long run shall have neither.”
“Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote!”
— Right-wing extremist Benjamin Franklin