True Radicals- Do Any Exist Anymore?

I was talking to someone the other day who is of the more liberal persuasion. He said he is afraid many Americans are becoming "radicalized". I asked him, "How do you mean?" To which he said, "They are buying weapons and ammo by the bucket full as if they are ready to fight our own government."

This statement has haunted me since the day he said it. What bothers me is not that he has observed an increase in sales of firearms and ammunition. It isn't that he thinks Americans are becoming radical. What bothers me is the total lack of recognition of how "radical" our forefathers had to be to shake off the chains of tyranny.

As you know, Thomas Jefferson made some interesting and famous statements regarding liberty and tyranny. Here are a few:

"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants."
"Every citizen should be a soldier. This was the case with the Greeks and Romans, and must be that of every free state."
"...a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they (the subjects of King George, Americans) should declare the causes which impel them to the separation (from England)."

Thomas Jefferson knew that in order to gain, keep, and maintain liberty, blood must be shed. This was once common knowledge agreed upon even by his political foes. However, this view is now viewed as fringe extremism. Pacifism toward tyranny is a perversion. Americans who are simply content to allow governmental tyranny in the form of government control of health care, UN usurpation of US sovereignty, global warming policies and the like are nothing but spoiled, fattened children who confuse the abundance of prosperity with the beautiful hardship of liberty.

It is a dangerous thing to not recognize that our elected officials can be domestic enemies. However, it is even more dangerous for the populace to recognize it and then do nothing. I am afraid for my country. If there is no revolution in the ballot box, and we fall completely under tyranny, I can forsee the "extreme" elements of our country taking up arms to restore this country. If they do, they will simply be watering the wilting tree of liberty.

Do I desire this? No, absolutely not. What I desire is for our elected leaders to govern, not rule; to govern in the best interests of the people, performing their roles as representatives of the people and the states, rather than perverting their roles and turning them into positions of power over the masses.

I pray for a ballot revolution in 2010 and 2012. God, may it be so.