by Shane Musgrove
Political labels constantly change throughout time, depending on the point and perspective of history that you view it from. For example, the fifty-six signers of the Declaration of Independence were seen as enemies of the state, and from Great Britain’s perspective a charge of high treason was placed upon them. Today, they are looked upon as heroes in the eyes of this great nation of men and women, not only for their great courage but also because of their thought and insight to political philosophy.
These political labels are often blurred, and the terms liberal, conservative, Democrat, Republican, Tea Party, and libertarian are used as vague descriptions, insults or for political gain. They mean little and are generalizations that attempt to define us as a person or ideologue. Ousting these labels for myself and others, I have found one thing in common among “We the Peopleâ€: A common distrust of those in leadership, perpetual propaganda exploited to the people by those in control, and a lack of understanding of our beginnings as a nation and of history as a whole.
My point and the question that continually burdens my mind, as well as many others, is: How did we get to such a complacent and apathetic standard and viewpoint of our own history and an understanding of the political schemes around us? This should indeed raise concerns and peak our curiosity.
It is often said that, “He who controls the mind, controls the people.” To reiterate this point:
“How fortunate for governments that the people they administer don’t think.” – Adolf Hitler
As painfully as it is to admit, Hitler was correct in this statement, which he proved as he rose to power in Germany.
As for us, we rely on state and federal run education and our education seems to end there, as if we have arrived to our intellectual ascent. However, the cycle of misinformation swells upon us every day, and eventually our minds are controlled by all others but ourselves. And to our demise, the outcome is apathy and dependency upon others. Politically, it ends in at best chaos and at worst a dictatorship.
Men and women begin their reign of power in states, republics, democracies, and the great civilizations by the bending of minds rather than militarily. For example, the Roman Catholic Church in the Middle Ages gained power throughout Europe by the ignorance and illiteracy of the people, made itself rich by the means of power and imposed laws for penance that were built upon its own greed and corruption. The people’s savior for this corruption was Dr. Martin Luther and his 95 Theses – a man who by his own lack of compromise took it upon himself to take control of his mind and let no one corrupt the truth.
Regarding the bending of minds to obtain power, evidence of this has been seen in human nature and the nature of government throughout history. A bold and true statement: Our federal government is aware of this. How does a government created by the people grant itself so much power while violating the very document that gave it power – limited power? Indoctrinate the people’s minds. Indoctrinate their minds in state-run schools, via media outlets and at worst, universities. There is no need militarily, but only subtle changes in a progressive climate bent towards reshaping the American mind.
So today, we are faced with many issues that are not only reshaping the minds of many, but they are destroying a culture of independence and liberty – liberty and freedom of the person and the mind. Among these issues are many, but they are more than worthy of thoughtful consideration and useful debate in more than just this writing. However, it must be duly noted that most who speak of these things speak out of ignorance, and the irony is that it falls at the hands of the literate (unlike those previously mentioned who were robbed by the early Roman Catholic Church).
Thankfully, Americans have historical figures and a founding document to look to: The U.S. Constitution and a plethora of writings from our founding fathers. If you have not read the U.S. Constitution or studied our country’s history, heroes, and writings, your apathy towards the freedoms that you enjoy every day at the stake of many lives lost lies upon your shoulders, and your conscience will be shed upon generations to come. Will you sit complacently and wait until your 1984 (aka “Big Brotherâ€) becomes a reality? What shall you do then? What shall you say?
Therefore, I plead with you to have a spirit of resistance and a spirit of renewing your mind with truth. In the words of Thomas Jefferson,
“The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions that I wish it always to be kept alive.â€
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View history as an example, be a student of it, and learn from the men and women who preceded us. Below is a quote often attributed to Alexander Tytler and re-stated in parts by many:
“A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship. The average age of the world’s greatest civilizations has been 200 years. Great nations rise and fall. The people go from bondage to spiritual truth, to great courage, from courage to liberty, from liberty to abundance, from abundance to selfishness, from selfishness to complacency, from complacency to apathy, from apathy to dependence, from dependence back again to bondage.â€
Apathetic, dependent, complacent? As I said, set all labels aside, as my purpose is not to start a war between political labels. We also know a new label will arise tomorrow and I am none of these. I am simply trying to make you think, and perhaps make you feel.
A time comes when you and I have to honestly look ourselves in the mirror and ask the question, “Where am I on the above list? Who am I?â€
Shane Musgrove [send him email] is a freelance writer living in Vail and Denver, Colorado.
It's quite clear to me how apathy leads to bondage, and how it takes bondage for people to wake up because they finally see how their apathy directly affects their liberty and happiness in life. It then requires that we step out of our comfort zones and do the right thing, for in our hearts we know it is the right thing to do, not because someone has to tell us it's the right thing to do. Our past experience of bondange also gives us the vigilance to ensure continued liberty.
Bravo Cydnie!
Studying our original writings and documents give such power and the strength we need to continue the fight! You can tell those who are "well versed" than those who are just along for the ride. So many people truly do not understand the importance of words, the power of the tongue is mightier than the sword! Our language has been dropped down and run through the gutter to where even simple words do not have the same meaning as the original definition! Our schools do not teach How to think but What to think and has been going on for decades! Kids schlub through school like brain dead robots and the teachers keep passing them through. But the parenting is no better, how many parents see over their children's education? It is going to take some time to get people to really wake up and change their ways. Kudos shane
Why do you have to bash Catholic Christianity? If it weren't for the Monks copying the Scriptures, both the Bible and literature would not have survived the Dark Ages.
Your BIAS is showing . . . you Protest-Ants need to rethink your agenda. Once I read to the Catholic Bashing, I quit reading.
You lost me and I hope many other educated people. When you use inflammatory speech to incite support of your topic, you are doing just what Liberals do . . . trying to persuade people using FEELINGS instead of Facts and Logic.
The FACTS about Martin Luther can be read here: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09438b.htm
He was not the 'mr wonderful' that protestants make him out to be. [And I converted from a life of Lutheranism to Roman Catholicism at age 48 after I studied the Early Church Fathers and did research on The Church that began with the Apostles. Using facts and logic, I realized the many errors in protestantism.]
I am disappointed in this website for promoting Catholic Bashing and using a man who made a vow to God similar to Jephthah's with far reaching effects on humanity and Christendom. Luther's supporters were German princes who didn't want to tithe to The Church. Promoting 'his beliefs' [actually their beliefs] was based on their pocketbooks and bank accounts and not on their theological convictions.
Emotionally abusing Catholics is no way to promote the 10th Amendment agenda!
Carol aka Auntie Coosa
I do not believe I am bashing the Catholic Church – only stating what has been documented historically. It was simply an example of what I consider great courage by a man(Martin Luther) who interpreted the Bible and posted on the door of a church what he knew to be true. One man standing up against the masses – that is courage.
However, that is not the underlying theme of the article nor is it "Catholic bashing" as you would say. It is simply, as stated, a historical example of courage. I don't believe this is a religious argument nor was the writing intended to be. If it was perceived that way, you have my sincerest apologies, but I will write what is historically based unapologetically.
This writing is about "the states," and I used that as an example of "great courage." I would be more than happy to discuss the theological discrepancies during that time period and the history of the church via email.