Words to remember?

Maybe it’s a strange coincidence or an ironic fluke of happenstance, but the signing into law of the health care bill by President Obama occurred on the same date in 1775 when Patrick Henry delivered a speech in a church in Richmond, Va., wherein he urged his fellow Virginians to take up arms against oppressive English rule.

Ask 10th-grade students of today what he said and the majority probably couldn’t tell you. Ask the same kids’ grandparents and I daresay most would be able to tell you that he proclaimed, “I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”

In their schools, the older generation of Americans read and learned to recite historic speeches by Henry, Abraham Lincoln and others. What historic speech will young people remember from March 23, 2010? Let’s hope it’s not the crude comment that Vice President Biden made about the health care bill as he turned over what he thought was a distant microphone to the president.

Dale Roloff

Spokane