"The American Crisis" by: Thomas Paine

As I read the exerpt from Paine's writing I quickly realized just how much he cared for the situation his country and, of course his fellow American citizens, were forced into by Great Britain.  He states "Britain, with an army to enforce her tyranny, has declared that she has a right (not only to TAX) but 'to BIND us in ALL CASES WHATSOEVER,' and if being bound in that manner, is not slavery, then is there no such a thing as slavery upon earth."  While I do not agree with his choice in similies, I am able to better understand just how much torture it must have been to live under British authority.  The main reason that I find his comparison to slavery incorrect is because there were still many black slaves at the time this piece was published; to bring up British enforcement of "slavery" on Americans and not American enforcement on blacks is undoubtedly hypocritical.  While I do not yet know how Paine felt about black slavery, I believe that he contradicted himself when he compared the American people to slaves.  To continue, Paine believed that if one does not fight, one shall perish.  "It matters not where you live, or what rank of life you hold, the evil or the blessing will reach you all."  Not only did he want people to fight for their freedom from the British, he believed that any and all who didn't would be stricken with evil by G-d himself.  The power behind his words is what persuaded many into battle.  I am sure that his mantra (had he used one) would have been "you have to fight for your right to be free".  Do you agree with this?