And I Quote

BY LOUIE OVERSTREET

All preceding generations of Americans, in one form of another, were willing to pay the going rate as embodied in John Curran’s quote in 1790, “The condition upon which God hath given liberty to man is eternal vigilance.” 

However, a quote attributed to P.T. Barnum, in the late 19th century, fits our current behavior: “There is a sucker born every minute.” 

Categorically I must state that the election on November 5, 2024 was the most internationally embarrassing election in my lifetime, dating back to the early 1940s. I witnessed a plurality of Americans wittingly invalidate all our nation’s precepts, nearly 250 years in the making. 

And I quote: 

“Give me liberty or give me death.” — Patrick Henry (1775) 

“I regret that I have but one life to give my country.” — Nathan Hale (1776) 

“We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union … ” — Preamble to the United States Constitution. Ratified in 1788 and went into effect in 1789. 

If quotes of more recent vintage are more your style: “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” — Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1933) 

“Ask not what your country can do for you–ask what you can do for your country.”— John F. Kennedy (1961) 

Now, here is one from your 45th and soon to be 47th President of the United States. In 2005 he stated, “Grab them by the (five-letter noun, starting with p). You can do anything.” 

While not exactly a founding father type and long after I am gone, I can imagine a philosophizing, wino-brother from my old neighborhood, Down the Way in Cleveland, Ohio, making a statement worthy of an entry in a future book of quotes: “Those Maryland-Farmers really screwed things up in 2024 and I told you so!” 

Since this is a family magazine, you must read between the lines for the words I really wanted to use instead of “Maryland-Farmers” and “screwed” things up. 

It is not a laughing matter — but just this one time, it is okay to laugh.