On the morning of April 19, 1775, as the drumbeat of the regimental British Army approached, the leader of the farmers gathered on the Lexington battle green told them: “Stand your ground. Don’t fire unless fired upon. But if they mean to have war, let it begin here!”

The first American heroes fought and died at Lexington and Concord that day. Just fourteen months later, the Declaration of Independence published the revolutionary idea that governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed and not the other way around. But 233 years later, as that idea is still gaining ground throughout the world, it is losing hallowed ground in America.

The despicable, dishonest manner in which Ground Zero was hijacked by a brazen, amoral, ruling class and a brazen, amoral, cultural elite is a terrible affront to everything we are supposed to stand for. If it doesn’t begin here, it will likely end here.

The Twin Towers Alliance is going to petition Congress for a redress of grievances that will include, in the manner of the Declaration of Independence, a list of the brazen official abuses that have brought us to where we are today. That will be followed by hundreds of the most potent comments that have been left on the Twin Towers Alliance petition.

It will be delivered to the leaders of Congress, to the Governors of New York and New Jersey, and to the White House. In the near future, it will be included in a companion volume to “Saving The Dream” that will pick up where that book left off.

We will soon find out if change really is coming to America or just more of the same. This is the ultimate test. We hope that a “post-political” Washington really does exists, because, if we don’t take back our country starting with Ground Zero, we are going to find out too late that we have paid a terrible, irredeemable price for allowing such depraved indifference to go unchallenged. Nothing matters more.

An inquiry on “1600 Pennsylvania Avenue with David Shuster” on MSNBC exposed how compromised the media has become. Gov. Pataki came on to spin more of the fairy tale that the official plan was the result of a “democratic” process. But when he let it slip that he and Mayor Bloomberg had actually dismissed the design that the public — and even his own Lower Manhattan Development Corporation — had selected because they thought it was “just terrible,” no one reported that.

In other words, the millions who took part in the much-vaunted “open and inclusive process” were irrelevant and their input was a waste of time, but that’s not “news.” So much for those who are supposedly “looking out for the folks.” Of course, a contest that wouldn’t allow new Twin Towers to even be considered because they would clearly win was never to be taken seriously to begin with.

Letting them get away with that was a singular failure of the “free press.” But it was still shocking that not one report appeared after Pataki’s own words showed the selection process up for what it was. It is just a continuation of the stealth campaign that has characterized the “rebuilding” effort from the start.

Apparently, taking an oath to uphold the Constitution does not extend to the First Amendment right to petition the Government to redress grievances – because let alone redress them, our federal, state, and local officials won’t even address them. Officials have been running this country like Masters of the Universe for much too long and we can see where that has led us. But in reality there is just a little “man behind the curtain” cranking away.

How those in power think they can get away with ignoring what, in the most recent poll, almost 90% of the people favor is hard to fathom. It must be due to their control of the information channels. But their confidence is misplaced because the idea of America has a life of its own and our Democracy is coming of age.

The fix is obviously in and it is reminiscent of the climax of “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” when Senator Jefferson Smith filibustered so long and so hard to defeat the corrupt establishment that he finally passed out – heartbroken and exhausted, but defiant to the end.

He couldn’t win at establishing the truth, because there was too much powerful disinformation at work. But his full measure of courage finally mortified one of his chief adversaries into admitting that everything Smith had said and been ridiculed for was indeed true. The disgraced Senator then left the Senate chamber and shot himself. But those who have engineered this coup are shameless.

Most politicians were not part of the plot, but just got sucked into it believing all the lies. This is their chance to look at what we are trying to tell them and act in good faith to decide this issue on the merits, while they still can. Since the media can’t be bothered to defend the truth, we have to hope that someone will feel such shame for what has been perpetrated against the American people that they will publicly disown it and help us turn the tide.

Copies of the petition will also be directed to construction union leaders and to Mr. Silverstein, because in both cases, if they look beyond the surface hype they will recognize that they would be far better off by backing our efforts. We know how formidable the disinformation campaign is, but we can only hope that the unions will discover how little there is to be proud of in building the bogus “Freedom Tower” and put the country above their perceived short-term interests.

They are traditionally among the most patriotic Americans and would soon realize that they would be far more secure if we win. And then, if we can get people talking, maybe a celebrity or two will bravely stand up and give a voice to the rest of us. Anything can still happen in this defining battle for the heart and soul of America.

But, if the raiders of Ground Zero are allowed to keep on lying and scheming, that moment of truth may come too late for America. When all the facts are known, those who are working against the rebirth of Twin Towers at Ground Zero will be branded on the wrong side of history. If they succeed, it will only be because they have a lock on the media — and if it can’t be picked, then, Goodbye America. We will go down the drain, just like the water in their morbid 9/11 Memorial.

Some thought that David Shuster was too aggressive in his interviews with Christopher Ward and George Pataki, not recognizing how much they have to answer for to the American people. How refreshing it was to have journalist who obviously took a stand and didn’t pretend to be non-aligned about such a defining matter. That was in clear contrast to those who have been cheerleaders for the official plan all along, while pretending to be impartial observers.

As it happened, due to the time constraints, Gov. Pataki and Director Ward got away with statements that they could never have backed up if pressed. But David Shuster singlehandedly worked a miracle by getting them to go on the record at all. They would never have done it if they hadn’t felt threatened and that should make everyone take notice.

Real-life dramas don’t always end as happily as in the movies, but this one still can, and just like “the shot heard round the world,” it would start another chain reaction of right makes might and not the other way around. All it will take is someone with power who decides to use it as selflessly as the Minutemen of 1775 or the Heroes of 2001.

Except in this case, no one needs to die for what’s right — just to live for it.