On Wednesday, President-elect Barack Obama also asked the country to look to Washington's improbable crossing of the Delaware River on Dec. 25, 1776, as inspiration to get through current tough times.If in modern times with readily available rescue boats, helicopters, and treatments for hypothermia we are too scared to merely reenact the crossing, how the heck are we going to be bold and daring enough to perform the crossing, march on Trenton and defeat the Hessians? Can't do that, we're to scared of injury (and presumably lawsuits)
The historical crossing happened shortly after Thomas Paine wrote the following. Here's hoping that Obama can really use it to inspire greatness, instead of today's bickering over who should steal our bailout billions.
These are times that try men's souls; the summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands 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.
