Your Republican majority legislature recently passed a bill that would allow (not require) the displaying of our state’s motto, as well as our country’s motto. Who knew it would cause such a “triggering” event for the lefties?
First, I want to show you the utter disdain the left has for such patriotic actions. The following was from Rep Stephen Woodcock (d), Conway NH, during his parliamentary inquiry on the House floor just prior to the vote on the bill.
“Thank you Mr. Speaker, Mr. Speaker if I know French Fries come in multiple toppings, some like I like salt with a little bit of ketchup, others like a lot of ketchup, some like some brown sauce, some like cheese, it sort of reminds me that one size doesn’t fit all, nor does one deity.
And also, Mr. Speaker, if I know that motto, “Live Free of Die,” is patriotic as the Representative from Haverhill said, but yet it has significant impact on our students at school. If we recall adolescents in school Mr. Speaker, with their brain has not been fully developed that they have questions of, “where am I going, what am I doing,” If I feel that I am being bullied, if I am nervous, if I am too fat or too tall or too skinny or if I don’t wear the right clothes Mr. Speaker then… If I continue, if I have seen students in middle schools and high school who had their arms cut all the way up from razor blades because they are concerned and they are in pain… and I put on the front door of every building, “Life Free or Die,” I’m concerned about the trigger that that says to these adolescents as they come in every day.
If I know Mr. Speaker, that I spent many a day in Sunday school every single year, and if i know my vacations Mr. Speaker were occupied with Vacation bible school. And if I know that I learned one thing from those nuggets of years Mr. Speaker, that Jesus did not come into town with a sign hanging from his ass, and nor should any school, I ask you to vote no.”
Contrast THAT with the following Op-Ed in today’s newspaper by Rep Sue Homola (R) Hollis, NH:
“PEOPLE HAVE told me that coming up into New Hampshire along Route 95 and Route 93 North they “just breathe easier.” They smell the fresh air, see the beautiful forests and lakes and feel the freedom from our state motto “Live Free or Die.” That infamous phrase uttered in a toast from Gen. John Stark on July 31, 1809, is a source of pride for Granite Staters. For this legislator, I continue to be inspired by well-preserved traditions of this state and the men and women of its history.
I am so fortunate to be playing this small role for New Hampshire and I love bringing people to the State House to show them what I do. I consider all of us in New Hampshire lucky to have virtually a front-row seat to the history of our founding and the roles that our early leaders played in the formation of our country. It’s important to recognize this heritage provides a guide to the ideals that Americans live by today, whether it be our national motto, “In God we trust,” or General John Stark’s famous words “Live Free or Die.”
I was a proud co-sponsor of HB 69, which prohibits the state of New Hampshire or any political subdivision from restricting a school from displaying our national and state mottos. Whether you believe in God or another higher power, our national and state mottos serve as a reminder that we have hope when we feel hopeless. People come from all over the world to this amazing country in search of freedom and opportunity to make a better life for themselves and their families. These two mottos give everyone, regardless of background, a concept to unite around.
Especially in these times, when the world feels more divided than ever, our belief in the freedoms and individual liberty are concepts that still tie us together. Although we may not always agree on politics or policy, there are more beliefs that unite us as citizens than there are that separate us. With the phrases “In God we trust,” and, “Live Free or Die,” as our rallying call, I hope that these words can serve as a reminder of the rights that our founding fathers laid out in our Constitution when they reminded us that we all share the same basic and critically important rights that our creator endows us with.
Gen. Stark believed that freedom was of the utmost importance. He knew that our liberties are the essence of what it means to be an American. Whether it be in Bennington or in the classroom, the fundamental principles of justice, liberty, and freedom are values that need to be passed on to future generations otherwise they perish. Shouldn’t our students learn that no matter what challenges they may face in their education or in life, it is history, heritage, and faith that guides us as Americans?
Thank you to all of my fellow Republican representatives who stood by this legislation. In the immortal words of Gen. Stark, “Live Free or Die!”
Republican patriotism versus the radical insanity and hatred of the left for all to see, for those who wish to see!