"The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph."

Thomas Paine, American philosopher, political activist, writer, and patriot, who was born on this day in 1736 wrote a 47 page pamphlet called Common Sense which called on the American colonists to seek their independence from England.  While Paine is perhaps best known for this pamphlet, he is also known for a famous quotation that came from his essay, The American Crisis, published on December 23, 1776.  You've probably heard the first part of the quote many times : "These are the times that try men's souls."  

The second part of the quotation is just as important.  Paine continued, "The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.  Tyranny, like Hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph."

While Common Sense may have started the American Revolution, it was The American Crisis that saved it.  General George Washington and the Continental Army had just suffered one of its worst defeats at the Battle of New York (technically, there was a series of battles involving portions of New York and New Jersey, but that probably doesn't matter to my point).  Whether from overconfidence, inexperience, or a combination of both, Washington's army was nearly routed (hence the passage, "These are the times that try men's souls").  They escaped to fight - just barely - to fight another day.

Just a few days later, Washington had the essay read out loud to his troops at McConkey’s Ferry on the Delaware River. He had reached a pivotal moment in the life of the newly independent United States of America.  The British General William Howe was offering pardons to all of the local residents, and the re-enlistment periods for a number of the volunteers in the Contintental Army was coming to an end.  The fate of the Continental Army, and thus the fate of the United States, was literally hanging by a thread.

Paine's words inspired Washington's men, who adopted the motto, “Victory or Death” for the famous Crossing of the Delaware Riveron Christmas Day.  The Continental Army surprised and defeated the Hessian garrison at Trenton, which was followed shortly by a second battle at Princeton.  The troops decided to re-enlist, morale improved, and a young nation was saved.

As I posted this past March (March 20 to be exact), we are still at a critical time in history.  We are deploying the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, behavior is changing as more people are wearing masks and socially distancing, and COVID-19 numbers are finally starting to fall.  But let us remember that this past year, 2020, was marked not just by the worst pandemic in our lifetime.  The year was marked as well by political polarization and racial unrest as we are finally coming to the grips that our United States of America is not so united.  Systemic racism and inequality are no better now than they were a few months - - you could also say years, and decades for that matter - ago.  Just a few short weeks ago, our nation's Capitol, a symbol of democracy to the world, was under attack.  These are the times that truly try our souls.

And just as Paine said, those of us who stand united to confront all of these problems will deserve the love and thanks of man and woman.  We have work to do folks! The task won't be easy, but "the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph."