What does liberty
stand for in a time when the defining symbols of the word have been leveraged
for a sense of presumed “tolerance” and
security; distorted by politicians for a vote; and commercialized by the very
companies supporting all sides of war, hierarchies, and control? What is
liberty but a word whose meaning has been contorted over the centuries of
misplaced anger and dependence-stricken
societies to mean anything but what it once stood for? As a tool it has been
used to inspire events such as the burning
times, and synonymously with the concepts of terrorism.
Is terrorism the
look of liberty to those who’ve never set a foot out of their comfort zone to
stand for something they believe in? Regrettably, it is the charge of freedom
to demand a people face these ridicules if they wish to live unmastered by an
overextended government. Though we would identify as anything, but terrorists;
the truth of our story will not be discovered until long after our passing and
after years of demonization by those who control
the masses. Our story will be
told by people who are labeled conspiracy theorists, non-conformists, and
tin-foil hat wearers. People like our good friend “Martin”-
whose resolve has left
him behind bars; confined to house confinement for a
year following his sentence; and extensively extorted for good measure – suffer
for our incompetence in seeing a problem with being locked away for driving
without the proper state-approved permission slips on your vehicle. People like
yours truly, who one day forgot to take their daily dose of compliance elixir
before being accosted by Atlanta’s finest, simply for taking too long to load
at the airport. The people who’ve simply decided they’ve had enough bending to
the rule of the state for the sake of keeping order and generating revenue for
a corrupt system.
The truth is We never win. Too many – even amidst the wolves – fail to see
the honor in our effort, because they are still compelled to cling to the rule
of man, for a false sense of security that will never be theirs, lest they become
willing to take it with their own hands, and at the risk of their own flesh and
blood. This level of
awareness is rare, but growing, as it requires a way of thinking that expounds
beyond the confining rationale of human thought and etiquette to accept that
which it cannot fathom as a possibility without trapping the seeker to
believing firmly one way or another. So damning are the anti-qualities of these
ideals, because they serve only one purpose: fueling fear – through which
arises anger and hatred.
Many will look upon these individuals in detest, cursing
their actions as senseless, and even anarchist. First,
it’s necessary to acknowledge that not all of these instances involving
defiance against the state are part of an elaborate move to make asses out of
police or civilians. Equivocally, we can concede that some are indeed poor
cries for attention. Regardless, the ones that hold a firm ground in truth and
reality ought to serve – even to the newly awakening mind – as a tool of
learning and growth; whether it be what to do or what not to do. As liberty’s call waits for no one to be ready, no one
can simply say they will never be in a position to take such a stand. This
comes from experience, as once upon a time – and even as the writer for such
events – I never suspected I would be the one defying the overstepping of law
up close and personal. It was clear to me that I had people for that, and I was
just the writer. But as my mentors in freedom have discovered for themselves
and as I did for myself, you don’t get to pick your battle. The battle picks
you. Unfortunately, that’s something that you will likely never understand,
until it happens to you. Hopefully whatever straw breaks your back, and demands
your action will not see you dragged across the coal. While my own consequences
have yet to be decided, our dear friend has already undergone tremendous tortures
for his actions. Daniel
Crumpton put it eloquently, but here’s my summary of his words: If you’re
not prepared to accept the burden of the consequences, it’s safer to avoid
committing the stand. Some battles come with little fines and community
service. Other opportunities mean prison time. Your willingness to tangle with
those real serious consequences should ultimately affect your actions.
In the meantime, others condemn individuals of such rebellious
behaviors as terrorists, non-conformists, extremists, anarchists, witches… So readily
we commit them to the charges that come with these labels simple because we do
not understand the point they are trying to make. For the most part, humans enjoy
law and order (not just the hit TV show either). They take comfort in the
knowledge that someone can always be held accountable. This kind of thinking
leads to the exact mess we are in today. Sadly, not many have experienced their
final straw, their breaking
point, or their “liberty-calling.”
Many more never will. Doomed are we who see a future un-ruled by dictators with
armies and henchmen, but rather, communities of people doing what people ought
to do for one another; because we are before our time – we are the betas.
Until more are faced with their enough-is-enough
circumstance, and liberty - in all her glory - is sitting on their shoulder
whispering that it’s time to say “no;” the few of us who have stood and will continue
to do so will be found locked away for later burning at the stake. That’s where
Liberty stands.
The time is quickly approaching where people in mass will be
faced with Liberty’s calling, demanding them to fight or comply. The question
is: when your label alone condemns you to the flame – will you go peacefully,
or taking as many down with you? Eventually this movement will call for
patriots to stop convicting one another and start showing compassion even for
the positions we may not fully comprehend. In going forward, I can only hope
that when your personal calling to fight presents itself, you respond with
grace and refined sense; and remember patriots – freedom responsibly.
No comments:
Post a Comment