Daily (Patrick Henry–style) Digital Life Litany for Protection, Direction and Stewardship

Caveat emptier: This post was drafted with help from an AI assistant (Perplexity)— but ideated and edited extensively by the human, Bill Acton

Wikipedia

Lord,

I once cried,

“Give me liberty
or give me death!”

In this wired republic,
teach me how to defend liberty
without handing it away
a click at a time.

Show me the chains
that come disguised as convenience:
surveillance wrapped in “personalization,”
pressure to speak wrapped in “engagement,”
exploitation wrapped in “free” services
that cost us our privacy
and our peace.

Protect my fellow citizens
from digital tyranny—
whether it comes
from hostile states,
criminal cartels,
or corporations
that treat people
as mere resources to mine.

Guard my own love of freedom
from becoming license—
an excuse to harm,
to harass,
to spread whatever I please

 without regard for truth or neighbor.

Grant me the courage
to say “No”
when platforms or powers
demand too much—
to refuse terms that trample dignity,
to stand with those
whose voices are silenced
by force or fraud.

And let my stewardship
of this digital commons
be worthy
of the old cry for liberty—
fierce for the rights of others,
careful with my own power,
and ready, if needed,
to sacrifice comfort
rather than surrender the freedom
you have entrusted
to our care.

AI‑assisted creative work: This litany is an imaginative parody pastiche using generative AI. It imitates the public persona of [Patrick Henry] for commentary and devotional reflection. It is not created by or affiliated with [Patrick Henry], and should not be taken as his real views or words.

wracton@gmail.com
williamacton.legalshieldassociate.com (Legalshield and IDshield subscription information and applying for associate positions)