Quote:
‘These are the times that try men’s soul.
The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot
Will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now,
Deserves the love and thanks of man and
Woman.’
~ Thomas Paine
The revitalising and encouraging quote above is by Thomas Paine, a reputable English-born American activist, writer and philosopher. He said that particularly in one of his pamphlets titled ‘The American Crisis.’ He was famous for his four revolutionary quartet of pamphlets: ‘The American Crisis,’ ‘The Age of Reason,’ ‘Common Sense’ and ‘Rights of Man’. These four papers remarkably shaped the then American society, especially during the period of war of independence when American soldiers were gallantly fighting to free America from the shackles of Great Britain’s hegemony.
He was known for his empiricist and rationalist philosophy and radicalism. He was unabashedly patriotic to his country during the struggle for independence between America and the imperial Britain. Paine distinguished himself as one of the prominent men in the art of enthralling oratory and spellbinding persuasiveness!
THE AMERICAN CRISIS
And so, the roaring flame metastasised as the struggle for independence became even more titanic for the American soldiers. The fighting virility of the American soldiers was petering out, almost leading to the disavowal of their manliness. They were on the brink of total submission to the superior power of their colonialists, but, thankfully, Thomas Paine released ‘The American Crisis’ paper during this period of psycho-physical and emotional exhaustion. He read it fluently to the utterly weary soldiers, and their hope for victory over Great Britain was immediately boosted!
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The American Crisis paper played an instrumental and remarkable role during the American Revolutionary war. Basically, it was intended to positively reinvigorate, revivify, encourage and strengthen the dwindling spirit of the American soldiers to continue fighting for independence from Great Britain. It was a passionate pro-country or nationalist appeal; a clarion call to the American people to either go for the crown or a glorious tomb. That is, they either ‘give them liberty or they give them death.’ In other words, either they attain their political autonomy or nothing! So, the war raged on!
But some historical accounts showed us that the war for independence later turned in favour of the American soldiers, and the theatre of war suddenly turned against the brutal soldiers of imperial Britain because of Paine’s hope-rekindling paper(s). In short, the American soldiers, through their tenacity, eventually won!
THE KOGI ‘CRISIS’
And so, Kogi State, just like the once-upon-the-time America, burns fiercely in its own internal furnace. Just like the Americans, Kogites are tired of the rigidly oppressive, authoritarian and suffocating government of Yahaya Bello, and so they’re trying to get out of the web of Bello’s tyranny . But, it’s not easy, the same way it has never been easy for all freedom fighters. And just like Thomas Paine, I, Sule Abubakar Mark, have come to inspire all Kogites that, in this struggle for liberation, they shall be, as expected, brutally beaten by their oppressors, but they should not give up until freedom is finally attained on Saturday!
In his attempt to persuasively encourage the American soldiers, Thomas Paine said:
‘Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.’ So, I encourage you today, Kogites, to ask for either freedom or death so that you can bury the coffin of tyranny in Kogi State permanently. The road to this freedom may be serpentine and even gravely gravelled, but he that walks on this freedom’s path now will receive the warm praise of men and women in future.
The struggle for emancipation is bitter, but Its reward is sweet. So, Thomas Paine wrote: ‘The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness that gives everything its value.’ So is the journey of freedom. The more you suffer in the hands of your oppressors, O’ Kogites, the sweeter and overwhelming your victory! So, take your electoral ammunition and go to the battlefield; for the end of your oppressors draws nigh!
Arise, Kogites, and shine; for you’re known to be men and women of matchless manliness and talents. You all are known as men of pretty exceptionalism, so Thomas Paine said: ‘This continent [Kogi State] is too extensive to sleep at once, and too watchful, even in its slumbers, not to startle at the unhallowed feet of an invader.’ This underscores the invincibility of Kogites’ courage and strength to the point that, even when they’re sleeping or whatever, it will not be a walk in the park for any tyrant or attacker to treat them like slaves without being slapped in reprisal. So, arise!
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‘Saturday is the day that tries men’s souls
The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot
Will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of [Kogi]; but he that stands it now,
Deserves the love and thanks of man and
Woman.’ So, arise and mightily go to this electoral war, and bring home this crown. Oh, ye Kogites, I charge thee to go for either the crown or a glorious tomb! That is, you either ask for freedom or you ask for death!
‘Saturday is the day that tries men’s souls;
A day that you may see not till 4 years again,
So, arise and take up all your electoral armaments, for the electoral war is here!
Your precious blood could be spilled on the battlefield, and that could demoralise you.
You will even run into a thousand demons,
But thy Lord shall protect you against the
Unhallowed spirits of the crazy world!
At a point, your strength will peter out,
Your warring kit could be stolen by thugs,
Leading to the disavowal of manliness,
But thy Lord shall neither allow thee to see
Corruption nor thy souls to the Hades of politics. So, Arise!
Sule Abubakar Lucky Mark,
Writer and Sociologist.
Email: suleabubakarmark1111@gmail.com
09/11/2023.