Give Me Freedom Mp3 Song Download

[Adah]

Noman thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the House. But different men often see the same subject in different lights; and, therefore, I hope it will not be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen if, entertaining as I do opinions of a character very opposite to theirs, I shall speak forth my sentiments freely and without reserve. This is no time for ceremony. The question before the House is one of awful moment to this country. For my own part, I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery; and in proportion to the magnitude of the subject ought to be the freedom of the debate. It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country. Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the Majesty of Heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings.

Mr. President, it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and, having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation? For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it.

I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience. I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past. And judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of the British ministry for the last ten years to justify those hopes with which gentlemen have been pleased to solace themselves and the House. Is it that insidious smile with which our petition has been lately received? Trust it not, sir; it will prove a snare to your feet. Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss. Ask yourselves how this gracious reception of our petition comports with those warlike preparations which cover our waters and darken our land. Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation? Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled that force must be called in to win back our love? Let us not deceive ourselves, sir. These are the implements of war and subjugation; the last arguments to which kings resort. I ask gentlemen, sir, what means this martial array, if its purpose be not to force us to submission? Can gentlemen assign any other possible motive for it? Has Great Britain any enemy, in this quarter of the world, to call for all this accumulation of navies and armies? No, sir, she has none. They are meant for us: they can be meant for no other. They are sent over to bind and rivet upon us those chains which the British ministry have been so long forging. And what have we to oppose to them? Shall we try argument? Sir, we have been trying that for the last ten years. Have we anything new to offer upon the subject? Nothing. We have held the subject up in every light of which it is capable; but it has been all in vain. Shall we resort to entreaty and humble supplication? What terms shall we find which have not been already exhausted? Let us not, I beseech you, sir, deceive ourselves. Sir, we have done everything that could be done to avert the storm which is now coming on. We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the throne, and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and Parliament. Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne! In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation. There is no longer any room for hope. If we wish to be free-- if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending--if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained--we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of hosts is all that is left us!

They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. The millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable--and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come.

It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace-- but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!

Looking back, I think my first real recognition of freedom in music came when I was in high school and commuting to play in the local university orchestra with my violin teacher, a cellist. We were doing a Hungarian dance.

It is this gentle quickening and slowing that give the piece its character. Rubato will drive a strict tempo person bonkers. But it is the director or performer using their freedom with tempi to make a statement.

As a conductor, I have the freedom to interpret music as my studies of the score may indicate. As a composer, I try to give hints at what was going on in my head as I jotted the notes down. As the performer, I try to take all the hints of the composer, the guidance of the director, and my knowledge and being to create a satisfying performance.

Never before had I so vividly experienced the words of Isaiah: "I have come to preach good news to the poor, to set the captives free, to set the prisoners at liberty" (Isaiah 61:1). This realization struck me, especially on that particular Tuesday, when I heard these words from the mouths of more than 100 men condemned to spend their days behind prison walls. A sister from my community and I received an invitation to spend a day of retreat with them, with the intent to understand what it means to receive the Savior while living in prison.

We passed through the black gate of the prison accompanied by Sisters Teresa and Carlota, two women who have adopted the Gospel as a radical rule of life, choosing to spend the majority of their time behind bars. They stay there with those who have been deprived of their freedom, hoping that this simple, daily companionship can lead them toward the liberation that lies beyond physical barriers.

Past the gate, we went through a multitude of doors locked with keys, padlocks and bolts. We had to identify ourselves several times to police officers who took our fingerprints, examined our identity documents, ran any object we carried through a metal detector, and even searched us to check that we were not bringing anything forbidden into the prison.

We crossed a narrow alleyway painted with brightly colored Peruvian images and reached a small square surrounded by four or five cell pavilions. Among the closed doors of the pavilions, one stood wide open, revealing a small chapel presided over by the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. Teresa and Carlota, the accompanying nuns, prioritized entering, displaying serene piety as they paused for a few minutes before the Lord.

We joined them in song, and as they sang, those men labeled as criminals, feared by society, transformed into genuine children. With eyes half-open and faces reflecting sincere emotion, they sang with resolute voices a song proclaiming, "Stand up and lift up your heads, your liberation is near." Their conviction permeated the music, infusing the Word with life. As they later shared with us, many had plunged into the deepest abysses, and right there, in the dark place of their helplessness, Christ found them. He raised them up, compelled them to lift their heads once more, and offered a glimpse of liberation.

We were immediately ushered into the "auditorium" where the retreat was to take place. Guiding us were young men in blue vests labeled "Missionaries" on their backs. These individuals also live in prison, but they encountered Christ within those walls, and since that pivotal moment, they have embraced a freedom they never deemed possible. Presently, they devote their lives to explaining the Word, assisting their fellow inmates in embracing faith, and participating in a profound journey of conversion, forgiveness, healing and liberation.

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