FREEDOM & COURAGE

August 5 , 2019 /

FREEDOM & COURAGE

This may seem redundant since my previous post, July 27, was titled, “Freedom of Choice” and toward the end, I said this: “we are free to choose what we believe in strongly enough to act accordingly.  If we believe that one of our freedoms is being compromised or limited by others then we can do what we must do to protect and defend our freedom of choice.”  This was written before the two recent, horrific mass shootings which, in my mind, are attempts to make us fearful and compromise our freedoms.  Perhaps I should have just reposted that blog and let it speak to those who can hear and who can connect it with what’s happening to us as a united and disunited group of people.

As almost everyone knows, this country was founded on the basic premise and principle of freedom, especially freedom from an authoritarian government that wants to control and limit peoples’ freedoms.  Thomas Jefferson, in an 1825 letter to William Short: “Some are whigs, liberals, democrats, call them what you please. Others are tories, serviles, aristocrats, &c. The latter fear the people, and wish to transfer all power to the higher classes of society; the former consider the people as the safest depository of power in the last resort; they cherish them therefore, and wish to leave in them all the powers to the exercise of which they are competent.”  Who is judging whom as competent or incompetent?

It seems we may have reached a tipping point on the issue of gun control and the rhetoric of white nationalism, or racism, call it what you will. If we haven’t reached that point then it is only because not enough people have taken a stand publicly and demonstrated sufficient courage in the face of those who do nothing to change the ongoing conditions that are destructive to that which we hold most sacred.  I wrote six sentences on July 19, titled “Political Miasma” and I refer you to that brief statement for another perspective.  I have been called “master of the obvious” on more than one occasion, similar to the boy in “The Emperor’s New Clothes.”

I leave you to contemplate this: “Power in defense of freedom is greater than power in behalf of tyranny and oppression, because power, real power, comes from our conviction which produces action, uncompromising action.” (M.X.)  That, my friends, is courage and commitment personified.

 

 

 

Comments (2)

  1. We may have reached a tipping point… That one’s hard to swallow. I thought that was the case so many times before. How many people have to die? Be shot and injured? Lose someone? It’s interesting being an American overseas as you well know. I can feel the outrage, but can’t march. However, I can write even when I don’t have a local congressman. There are always ways to make your voice heard. My hope is that the people with the power to change our laws find the courage…

    Alli

  2. Thanks, friend. It’s a sad time here in Disunited States of America and yet I remain hopeful and optimistic. In the spirit of Sir Winston, we must never give up. It’s time to act and to demonstrate what we believe and hold most sacred. Whatever it takes. Elie Wiesel’s words keep coming back to me. I had the pleasure of meeting him and having a conversation many years ago, “We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere.” So we must.

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