Historical Roots
On a cold March day in 1775, Patrick Henry rallied Virginia colonists with “Give me liberty or give me death,” a rallying cry that still fuels American resolve 250 years later.
The September 11, 2001 attacks, carried out by 19 hijackers who seized four commercial airliners, shocked the nation and reshaped American self‑perception and global outlook.
Osama bin Laden claimed the United States deserved the assault, arguing that American capitalism and imperialism oppressed Middle Eastern and North African peoples, a narrative that continues to echo in contemporary discourse.
Hasan Piker, an online influencer and associate of New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, publicly asserted that “America deserved 9/11,” repeating a claim originally made by bin Laden.
While bin Laden invoked Islamic ideology, many observers now omit that motive, ignoring the political dimension of the attack that blended faith with a militant agenda.
Historians note that the Middle East has endured clan warfare, resource disputes, and sectarian violence long before U.S. involvement, with the 1991 Gulf War and the 1990s Mogadishu conflict illustrating regional bloodshed.
Surveys show that a majority of Americans under 30 view socialism favorably, and 39 percent of that cohort consider political violence acceptable, according to a 2023 Pew Research Center poll.
The murder of Charlie Kirk, a young activist whose philosophy echoed Patrick Henry’s 1775 speech, highlighted the clash between liberty‑focused citizens and those embracing resentment.
Modern Debate
American excellence, derived from its sense of liberty, meritocracy, and individual rights, is the envy of those whose ideologies are dwarfed by its ability to get the best out of people.
America was founded by men who wanted to be free, and with that freedom forged a civilization that allowed people to become whatever their will could make them.
The only way to overcome the lies that have been peddled to the American people is to live out the first principles that made it great to begin with.
Conclusion
Twenty‑five years after September 11, the words “Give me liberty or give me death” remain a stark reminder that liberty dies when citizens cease to defend it.
Adam Beattie, a political strategist, columnist, content creator and campaigner based in Vancouver, BC, invites readers to follow his commentary on TikTok, Instagram and X.
