Again

test test

Freedom Manifesto

No one wants to be considered a conspiracy nut or an alarmist but sometimes you simply have to acknowledge the fact that it is way passed time for the alarms to sound and sometimes there are groups in high places conspiring against you. We are living in one of those times now.

We have (due to geography, immigration, and a host of other socio-economic factors) been a bit of a fractured society since our founding.  That is not in and of itself a bad thing.  It challenged us and motivated us. Yet, through the entire short history of this unique and inspired country, that was founded on the idea of self rule, we have when necessary, put aside those affiliations that separated us (religion, politics, race, gender, class) to stand together as Americans and to do our duty and pay whatever price be demanded of us in order to see that this government of the people, for the people and by the people would not perish from this Earth. In other words, generations of Americans before us had their own gut check moments.  Times that tested their true commitment to the principles articulated in our founding documents.  Times where they had to risk their wealth, property, and even their very lives to preserve liberty, and freedom, even when the likelihood of failure was very real and very possible.

We have been fortunate to have lived through a golden age of sorts.  We have heard the stories of the brave men and women in our past who fought against long odds for principles of freedom and many of us have heard tales from our very family members of America defeating European fascism while at the same time destroying the brutal Imperialism of the Japanese empire.  Yet no matter how much we read, watch, or listen to these tales from generations past, we can not truly appreciate them because we have never known a time when America was the underdog or the possibility of losing our freedoms was a reality. We sing the songs, and shoot our fireworks and bloviate endlessly concerning these crucial moments from our pasts.  We have turned them into our American mythology because deep down it is unreal to us.  The have become now to have more in common with tales of Paul Bunyan, or the exploits of Daniel Boone or Davy Crockett.

How can we appreciate just what the common citizens felt watching the pride of the American navy sink beneath the waves of one of our harbors, after being attacked on American soil. Watching newsreels that showed enemy planes coming in wave after wave, killing and destroying all they could. When we see or hear of that December day, we can not help our bias due to the fact that we know the ending. We puff up a bit and harrumph about our greatness and maybe even speak with pride of our American exceptionalism. Never really understanding what it was like for those people who awoke on December the 8th. Who saw our pacific fleet destroyed, and waiting for a president who could himself barely stand upright due to polio, call for our nation to join  yet another World War against enemies that not only had far superior equipment, better trained armies, but openly called for the destruction of the very principles that defined American life. Now with our pacific fleet, which included our great battleships resting at the bottom of Pearl Harbor, the thought that we were going to have to go to war in the pacific must have seemed equally delusional and terrifying.  That was our enemy and we were going to have to once again fight for our survival while also suffering from an economic collapse so large, and so long, and so painful that it would mark all who lived through it until their deaths.

When we ceremonially stand before one of our sporting events and listen to our national anthem, can we even remotely appreciate the spirit that moved Frances Scott Key to put pen to paper and pay tribute to something he cherished so dearly, in a country so bound by it, that a person's belief and commitment to it would define his citizenship far more than birth or station.  Finding himself stuck on the enemy's warships as the battle began.  Our nation so young and new, where the first flames of a liberty and human freedom that had been carried down though the long dark centuries in Europe and set alight in a new home, was once again threatened.  How easily this dream could be extinguished.  Key watching his fellow citizens and his country being bombarded seemingly without end.  Surrounded by an enemy who were so sure of their victory, so confident in their might, so sure that this rabble and their silly attempt of self government was to meet reality and be wiped away.

What was that night like for Key? Standing on the deck as the cannons roared and roared and roared so that it seemed mere fantasy that any human being could stand their ground in the face of it.  Meanwhile, his captors ate and drank and sang God Save The Queen as they fully expected to walk ashore in the morning to accept the surrender of the broken and shattered people who managed to survive their assault.  All Key could do was stand and watch and wait as the cannon fire went on and on and on.  How can we understand Key's long night? We know how it turned out and have now turned his inspired verse into just another symbol for our edification based on our own self centered image.  We have infused it with our shiny "gold plating" while allowing it's true meaning and inspiration to drain into the mists of time.  We have as a people never known such a night as Key's. We have never felt that type of fear for our country or known what it is like to not know if your country will survive. To feel the worry and anxiety that begin to draw the night out like a blade.  Yet, have we ever known the exhilaration and joy that he felt upon dawn's early light. Could we understand what such real patriotism even feels like?   Such a feeling that he sat down and began to write, with the previous night still so near his mind.

Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,

What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming?

Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight,

O'er the ramparts we watch'd, were so gallantly streaming?

O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?

Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,

In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream:

'Tis the star-spangled banner: O, long may it wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

O, thus be it ever when freemen shall stand,

Between their lov'd homes and the war's desolation;

Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land

Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserv'd us a nation!

And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

  I have always been fond of studying and reading history, most especially American colonial history. As I have grown older there was a nagging question that would come continually to me.  History seems to show that freedom and liberty have not been the natural state for mankind.  Most people were born into servitude and ruled by tyrants, who claimed that their right to rule came directly from almighty God himself.  Our American history shows that freedom and liberty are not entitled to anyone and that they are purchased only at the highest of costs.  A costs that many times demands that the best among us must die for it. So, I wondered... If/When our time would come.  The hour come round at last where it falls to us to pay the cost of our liberty and freedom.  Would we, could we, sacrifice all that we have, or ever would have, even our very lives to protect the freedoms of not only our fellow citizens but the as of yet unborn generations who will be born either as free men and women as we were or into servitude, not even knowing the dream of liberty.

I began to perceive maybe a small microscopic bit of the emotions that must have been swirling in Key's mind that long night.  Would our generation, which has grown fat and lazy in the prosperity purchased by the blood of our forefathers, be able to rise and pay the price demanded of us for our continued liberty.  Only this time, I can't see the outcome.  I try to hold on to my faith but still find myself filling with doubt and worry.   At times I wonder...

O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

There is no need to enumerate all the quickly accumulating pieces of evidence that point to the fact that our payment for liberty and freedom has come due.  Every thinking man and woman with eyes to see and ears to hear from ever corner of the republic, from every race, and every religion feels it deep down in heart and soul.  "And the truth is, there is something terribly wrong with this country, isn’t there? Cruelty and injustice, intolerance and oppression. And where once you had the freedom to object, to think and speak as you saw fit, you now have censors and systems of surveillance coercing your conformity and soliciting your submission".  Yes that was quote from a movie, but whom among us does not see the meta-truth behind what it is saying.  It reminds us that we have duties and obligations that are written into our founding documents.  This citizen duty is not stated openly in them as our rights as citizens are, but are clearly visible to any mature reading of our deceleration of freedom and our bill of rights. That only a citizenry ready and willing to give everything to see those rights protected give the words any real meaning or turn grand ideals of the enlightenment into a guiding set of principles to liberate the body, mind and soul of individuals.  Jefferson outlined a statement of freedom so perfectly even while living within a society so unfortunately accustomed to the enslavement of one race and the massacre of another, that it's light would forever serve as our guiding star even in our darkest of hours.  Leading us by hook or by crook continually onward to it's beautiful and bright promise..

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal 

Those of generations past who fulfilled these sacred duties required of a free people, turn their eyes to us now from the halls of our fathers.  I wonder if they can see the outcome?  Will the price of freedom and liberty once again be paid by the citizens who are, and always will be it's true defenders and the reservoir of it's power or will this be the time that we simply reply; "Insufficient Funds".  I say that none who is truthful with themselves can offer an answer to that question with any authority. We know that we stand at the grandest cusp of history in our lifetimes.  Our time is upon us, where we will be judged and measured and history will render it's verdict on our worthiness for the high calling of the duties and responsibilities of a free man living in a free country.   

The first critical step is for us to admit the truth that we have known and felt for a while but have denied even to ourselves.  That today, right now -- our freedoms and liberty is not just threatened but it is under open attack and we either all drop all our petty squabbles and rush to liberties defense or we will damn a generation of Americans, yet to be born, to either a lifetime of servitude or a lifetime of violent battle and grave sufferings in order to regain the very liberties that we have allowed to be taken from us while we argued over nothing.  We must acknowledge that once again powerful and tyrannical opponents to our principles of freedom have come to our shores.  They once again appear to dwarf us in their power, and are confident in their victory.  The have come this time not with machines of war and men armed for battle but they have come to subvert and sabotage us from within. The want us to ignore the growing weight of the chains they are already attempting to use to bind us.  And even now they are beginning the ancient call of the tyrants, claiming their right to power is bestowed upon them if not from the divine, then from the natural order that shows the folly of living by such principles that ALL men are created equal.

The tasks and strategies for our defense of liberty will, I believe, become clear and demonstrable to all once the citizens awaken to this grave danger before us.  Yet make no mistake. History also makes another fact crystal clear.  That even once we have accepted our duties and responsibilities as citizens that there is still a long and rough road ahead of us.  Some of us are going to get scared up.  Some of us are going to be imprisoned and even tortured and yes some of us will never return.  And yes there will be many of our fellow citizens who will shirk from their duty and deny their responsibilities.  History also shows that these people always exists in every time of struggle.  Yet history remembers them not and forgets them as soon as they cease because they never really lived and never left any mark.  To pitiful to be either loved or hated, those cold and timid souls who never once knew either victory or defeat.

So let each person search his own heart and soul and come to the truth in his own way and then let him decide what a free man would do.  We do have reason for hope as well.  Because on those times when the grand citizen council of free men and women has come together, it has shown itself to be a powerful thing which has left the haughty plans of would be despots and tyrants in ruins and scattered those who saw themselves as our ordained rulers, fleeing before it. Let us show that we are worthy stewards of the grand idea of the ages which was placed in our charge.

Yes, I am aware that I have laced my rambling with the words of great Americans from our past.  That was intentional.  I will leave one last quote...

The boys grew up, and Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the open country, while Jacob was a quiet man, staying among the tents. Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob. Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. He said to Jacob, "Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I'm famished!" (That is why he was also called Edom.) Jacob replied, "First sell me your birthright." "Look, I am about to die," Esau said. "What good is the birthright to me?" But Jacob said, "Swear to me first." So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob.Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright. - (Gen 25:21-34.)