It’s another dreary autumn day in Upstate New York. Temperatures have been hovering in the 40s and 50s, and it’s drizzled or rained all week. We are making lemonade out of lemons, though. We’ve been baking and cleaning. My daughter makes an awesome peach pie, and we’ve made two this week!
For Photo Hunters today, the theme is sad. I took this photo when we visited Fort Ontario a few autums ago. It’s an old burying site with graves of people who died during the French and Indian War in 1754, and a monument to the Unknown Soldiers. This photo certainly looks sad.
Here’s another monument to the Unknown Soldiers who fought at the Battle of Oriskany during the American War for Independence in 1777.
The people of those times pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor with firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, so that we could live in freedom from government abuses and usurpations. Where are the good men now?
This photo is most sad of all. This is our Congress, who voted for the “Patriot Act” that steals away our liberties, who are setting up militarized martial law against us, and they recently voted to bail out rich bankers and investors with our money, against our will. We are now the casualties. The sacrifices that our predecessors made for us now mean nothing. This is very, very sad.
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. …
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! …
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. …
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!
Patrick Henry, 1775
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October 4th, 2008 at 8:43 am
I like your first photo. It does have a sad feeling.
Mine’s up here
October 4th, 2008 at 8:59 am
Great post. Very sad perfect for this weekend.
Have a good weekend!
Amanda
October 4th, 2008 at 9:23 am
I find cemetaries fascinating.
I played too.
October 4th, 2008 at 9:35 am
Cemeteries make me sad in the daytime, but creep me out at night.
Thanks for visiting!
October 4th, 2008 at 9:37 am
I have just been to Carver and commented that things were as perilous now as when McCarthy ruled the roost. But actually it is worse, isn’t it.
Very sad.
October 4th, 2008 at 9:44 am
Very sad indeed! I love your first photo and agree with Teena - cemeteries are very fascinating.
October 4th, 2008 at 9:50 am
Good post! Very sad indeed!
October 4th, 2008 at 10:20 am
Well done, Mrs. M. I believe that the vote yesterday was a final turning point in our country. We have now committed ourselves to socialism and tyranny. The only ray of hope I see in all this is that perhaps God will use the resulting catastrophes to draw people back to Himself.
I pray this, by His grace and His mercy.
October 4th, 2008 at 11:15 am
That is an excellent post for the theme. Cool. TC
October 4th, 2008 at 11:18 am
Graves of unknown Soldiers are sad. As for the state of North America I am apt to close my eyes against a painful truth and indulge in illusions of hope that the American Dream still exists.
October 4th, 2008 at 11:40 am
Cimetaries are always sad and for unknown soldiers even more. How many mothers miss their husbands or sons since the second world war ! They can be burried everywhere. That’s why I am against ALL wars !
October 4th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
I certainaly learned a lot from this post.
North Americian history. Over here in Norway, well we did learn about “The Boston Tea Party” - The Civil War and “Uncle Tom”.
Thanks for sharing
October 4th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
the first shot is my fav also… what a great sad post…
thanks drop at my post
October 4th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
the sepia effect on the first shot beings a touch of melancholy and sadness to it.
October 4th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Nice picks for sad. That first one really gets me. Thanks for stopping by for a visit. Happy Hunting.
October 4th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Yes the old cemetery looks sad and desolate - nothing much seems to have been done with it - just cut the grass and hope for the best ( a similar situation in the UK )
Glad you like my Blog - thanks ..
October 4th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
The first shot really epitomizes the theme. Nicely done!
Thanks for stopping by.
October 4th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
Wonderful photo of sad, captures so much sad feelings. Great photos and the speech is such a great speech!
October 4th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
oh my this one is truly dear to my heart because of my son-in-law. He just returned from Iraq a few months ago and now it looks like he will be in Afghanistan sometime soon. He is also a veteran of Desert Storm.
There is no greater sacrifice than for a man to lay down his life for another. Please excuse the paraphrasing.
This is a fantastic entry and a wonderful post.
Thanks for stopping by and visiting me. I have faved you on EC so I can visit more often.
I am going to try to visit as many as possible. But, for now I must go lie down. I have a change of seasons little bug and havn’t felt wellat all.
Thanks again for dropping in and also for such a wonderful share!!
October 4th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
The monochrome shot says it all. Deep sadness, on so many levels… I marvel at the passion and eloquence of our early leaders of democracy.
ThanX so much for stopping by today.
October 4th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Very nice, although at the time I was OK with the Patriot Act because I knew that things would have to be different. If we are to keep our freedoms, we will have to do something as we live in different times. This is touchy I know, but I too say that if I cannot live in freedom then I should be happy to give my life to defend it!
October 4th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Hmmm … so many sad things here to contemplate this weekend! Thanks for visiting mine at Sacred Ruminations and for sharing so much ‘food for thought’ in your ‘Sad’ Photo Hunt this week.
Hugs and blessings,
October 4th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
I read a bit of the history. Well, sadness does plays a part there..
Sad Retriever
October 4th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
The first photo is very moody in tone. Great for the theme.
Thanks for stopping by.
October 4th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
Bravo! This was an excellent post and great photographs. Patrick Henry’s speech is so mind blowing, particularly given the time it was written. It makes me sad to see lip service paid the the principles this country was founded on while simultaneously seeing rights taken away. You did a great job with this.
October 4th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Great pictures!
Thanks for visiting my site!
/Anneli
October 4th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Thanks for visit my site! I loooove your pictures!
October 4th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
Thanks for visiting my blog.
Great photos!
and I agree with you that our Congressmen may have made a grave mistake. Once you start this sort of thing, where do you draw the line? I don’t care to pay for the mistakes of these others and this bill is going to mean that we will be paying for them for many years I’m afraid.
Anyway, have a nice weekend!
toni
October 4th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
thanks for visiting my blog…
great photo collection.
October 4th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Sad but a cool post nice one!
thanks for visiting mine
October 4th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
Nice collection of photos. Thanks for the Patrick Henry quote!
October 4th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
That first photo looks so isolated and lonely.
So much of what you say rings true for me in this post. I am so tired of hearing that disagreeing with the current administration means I am not a patriot. Patriots don’t agree blindly with people in power, that’s not how democracy works. Democracy works when we use our guaranteed right to speak out and then take whatever actions are necessary to make sure our voices are heard. Patriotism isn’t “My country, love it or leave it,” it’s “My country, love it and fix it.”
October 4th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Powerful post! And Patrick Henry’s words are so appropriate to the situation at hand today. It is a sad state of affairs.
October 4th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
Your photos are perfect for this week’s theme. The graveyard pictures evoke a somber sadness mixed with a deep respect for those buried there. And you are so right - the last picture is the saddest of all. I am afraid there are some very “sad” times ahead for us all.
October 4th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
The graveyard is sad and lonely. Thanks for the history behind all that.
Thanks for visiting my blog. My grandmom lived to be 97, but she had no picnic. She could have retired to Florida with her sister, but she chose to live with my divorced mom and help raise the 4 of us kids. The last 4-5 yrs of her life she was nearly blind, which gave her dementia and left her bedridden. She was the rock of the family.
October 4th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
Very sad post but perfect for the theme.
Nice pictures.
Have a happy weekend.
October 4th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
nice photos…sad indeed, thanks for the visit!
October 4th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
A home-made peach pie sounds like just the thing to brighten up a gloomy day!
October 4th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
That first picture is indeed sad, but very beautiful, I like it in sepia, it does it right!
October 4th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
Political machinations always leave me both sad and angry.
October 4th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
cemeteries really are associated with sadness. my favorite pic is the first one.
October 4th, 2008 at 5:05 pm
Thank you for stopping by mine.
Wow, I really liked your images and explanations. I am from upstate originally. (A little town called Nassau about 30 miles south of Albany) I do miss the fall foliage from the Adirondacks and the Catskills. Have a nice Saturday.
October 4th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
Obladi Oblada Life Goes On…
The worst of the bail out is the the worst of the pain is still to come. This is just a thimble on the top deck of the Titanic as the ship goes down.
October 4th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
peach pie! why have i never thought of such?! i love peaches, fresh georgia peaches especially. great post too.
October 4th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
That’s a fantastic post and pictures for this week.
October 4th, 2008 at 6:07 pm
Nice shots…
The autumm one is very good. About the others, was my first idea to put something about places who represents sad moments. But finally I choose my dog.
October 4th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
Forgot to put the link…
http://pehuajeando.blogspot.co.....-nro6.html
October 4th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
You are so right on with this post.
October 4th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
Great photos! These monuments are a sad reminder of the past that we should all try to learn from. My entry for Photo Hunters is here
Thank you for stopping by
October 4th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
hi Mrs. Mecomber =)
thanks for the wonderful comments you left on my post. I will definitely read the scriptures aloud when i worry. thanks also for the prayers. I really appreciate it. God bless you!
October 4th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
da 1st pic really give a sad feeling…
thanks for dropping by and da kid isn’t suffered from down syndrome!!
October 4th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Great post. I do agree with most of what you said but the rescue plan was all about jobs and liquidity. That’s why they took out all of the other provisions. But I must say, our congress is shameful. They attached all kinds of sweeteners to this bill in order to pass it. They thought first of themselves and then the country.
You might enjoy reading my post that I did two weeks ago. Have a good rest of the weekend.
http://www.ayewonder.com/2008/09/26/a-letter/
October 4th, 2008 at 7:18 pm
Great idea for this week’s post. I didn’t think of monuments to Unknown Soldiers. I agree that it is very sad what has happened to this country, especially in the past 8 years. To lose liberties we have fought for is very sad and depending on the results of the election, we could next be losing our right to choose.
October 4th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
interesting how many PhotoHunters have equated sadness with war… may we all learn our lessons from the struggles of those who came before us, otherwise they would have died in vain… thanks for visiting my page!
October 4th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
Quite a post, Mrs. Mecomber.
Thanks for stopping by the creek - may the joy of the Lord be your strength in the days to come!
October 4th, 2008 at 9:08 pm
Looks like I’m not the only one who got on a soapbox this week…
October 4th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
Very good post.
October 4th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
What is happening in the world right now is sad indded - as always those who create the difficulty are not the ones who will suffer as greatly as the innocent by-standers.
October 4th, 2008 at 9:52 pm
Some great interpretations of the topic. Well done!
October 4th, 2008 at 10:28 pm
Great post today; sad, yet educating.
Thanks for dropping by, and I hope you have a great week!
My post…
October 4th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
yeah, so sad to see such a history unfolding but it would be a good thing in the long run… people learn from their mistakes and it’s time to re-evaluate what had happened….
October 4th, 2008 at 10:49 pm
Very nicely done. That first photo was beautiful.
My sad photo is here.
October 4th, 2008 at 11:10 pm
The first photo has such a feeling of desolation.
October 4th, 2008 at 11:14 pm
A great take on the theme this week.
Have a good weekend!
October 4th, 2008 at 11:35 pm
I felt sad looking at the first pic. It’s so sad thinking about those Unknown Soldiers - those people who died and no one knew who they were… and somewhere out there, their families were waiting for their return.
October 5th, 2008 at 12:19 am
Great pics for this week”s theme. The 1st 3 are definitely sad but I agree whole-heartedly~that last one is really sad! God bless our nation & watch over us
Thanks for visiting my blog & commenting
October 5th, 2008 at 1:19 am
That so sad to see cemetery or burial site..It always reminds us of losing love ones..
October 5th, 2008 at 2:32 am
Cemeteries can be sad, but I find them fascinating with all the history and stories they hold. Nice photos for the theme. Happy weekend.
October 5th, 2008 at 2:45 am
i love the serene look of the top photo. thanks for sharing.
thanks for the visit too!
October 5th, 2008 at 3:06 am
graveyard is definitely a sad place ……
thanks for visiting my blog.
October 5th, 2008 at 3:56 am
Great shots. I do love the fist photo. Patrick Henry’s text is the perfect accompaniement.
October 5th, 2008 at 4:04 am
Thank you for sharing this very insightful post. It’s sad when people die because of war.
October 5th, 2008 at 5:08 am
War is nothing but senseless killings =( Sad reality….great photos that convey sadness!
Thanks for your visit and have a nice week!
October 5th, 2008 at 5:20 am
A great write!
October 5th, 2008 at 5:52 am
So much of sadness in this post and in the world right not.
Many people and their kids are dying of hunger due to high prices of food. Those rich bankers and investors messed up many people’s lives with their greed.
October 5th, 2008 at 6:57 am
The mood in the first one is so melancholy. Great shot!
October 5th, 2008 at 7:37 am
I agree with tanabata…that first shot is fills me with melancholy. It’s wonderfully composed too.
October 5th, 2008 at 8:42 am
The memorial pictures are certainaly sad, and well the Congress one.. These financial ruins affect everyone, not just the rich.
October 5th, 2008 at 8:45 am
Excellent post, sad, yes, but very thought provoking.
October 5th, 2008 at 8:58 am
You seem to be having the same “sad” weather we have over here in Holland right now. Yak!
October 5th, 2008 at 10:03 am
I think one of the best ways to appreciate the sacrifices of our ancestors and our history is to visit the burial sites. I always try to spend at least a few minutes alone and away from my companions when I visit. It is a great opportunity to reflect on who they were, how they lived, and perhaps how and why this became their final resting place.
Baker
October 5th, 2008 at 10:25 am
The first photo indeed looked sad.
October 5th, 2008 at 11:27 am
i grew up around a cemetery, played there as it was the safest place to be. until i was thirteen yrs old and almost sexually assaulted by a wacko over there. it was the precise reason i love to play and study there that he found the safest to ‘try stuff’ on me.
fortunately fate intervened.
October 5th, 2008 at 11:33 am
Yes, these are sad circumstances indeed but we fight on, however uphill the battle we trudge on… however uneven the odds, we battle on… because the only thing sadder than wasting our patriots’ sacrifices is the death of patriotism itself.
October 5th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
Your kids are probably so smart and so well rounded. You just amaze me with all the activities you have them involved in. I am so impressed!!!
October 5th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
Fabulous photo and amazing post!
October 5th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
Great post & photos to capture the theme of sad. It is a sad state of affairs our country is in now.
October 6th, 2008 at 12:00 am
the first photo does evoke sad memories tied to the place.
thanks for droppin’ by!
October 6th, 2008 at 4:04 am
sad photos, indeed.
October 6th, 2008 at 4:36 am
The first sepia picture truly looks sad… so do the other ones and the picture of Congress, well said!!
October 6th, 2008 at 8:38 am
Wonderful and thought-provoking entry. There is a lot to be sad about these days. Thanks for visiting mine.
October 6th, 2008 at 11:45 am
Those are great photos. They really make you feel the emotion that goes along with the sad history behind it.
October 6th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
Those are very interesting shots.
Thanks for visiting my photohunt.
October 7th, 2008 at 10:34 am
The fact that power-mad career politicians are trying this nonsense is no big surprise. It should be expected.
The fact that most Americans are too ignorant to even know where this country came from or what these things mean … is what is sad.
October 7th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
A fantastic set of photos and contribution to the theme. Very appropriate for the times, also. What is going on is quite infuriating. Thank you for sharing! I tried to keep my contribution light this week….there were too many truly sad things going on, that I decided to try a sense of humor. Take care!
October 7th, 2008 at 11:44 pm
great take on the theme! lovely photos as well.
thanks for the visit.
October 8th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
The state of our (sad) economy aside, I do like the first photo best.
October 16th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
sorry it took so long to post a comment apparently your comment was mark spam and I completely forgot to check for spam comments but thank you for your visit
I like the somber tone of the first shot, certainly just right for photohunt
thanks for your visit again!
-lissa/2lives
October 23rd, 2008 at 1:18 am
I’m SO far behind! Glad I came anyway…this is an amazing post…great tribute.