Some quotes and then commentary for this Sunday:
When we blindly adopt a religion, a political system, a literary dogma, we become automatons. We cease to grow. - Anais Nin
So many people are looking for truth, but very few of them know how to recognize it. Everyone claims to have it, from the salesman on the car lot to the preacher in the church down the street. It would take a book to teach someone how to recognize the truth, when you hear it. But let's suffice it to say, within each of us lies the ability to seek out and research the truth for ourselves.
Truth does not always make us feel good. Note the the old saying, "the truth hurts". Many times it hurts deeply, so much that there are those people that desperately want to avoid or ignore the truth, so they can avoid the hurt that comes with it.
But the truth is the truth, whether one wants to avoid it or not. No system has all of the truth and no person should believe that it does. Those that blindly follow that which makes them feel good, may be high risk for cult membership. Religious cults, political cults, and others are hoping that a mind will not question, will not think for itself.
It may well be that our means are fairly limited and our possibilities restricted when it comes to applying pressure on our government. But is this a reason to do nothing? Despair is not an answer. Neither is resignation. Resignation only leads to indifference, which is not merely a sin but a punishment. - Elie Wiesel
Fear paralyzes us, when we allow it to reach a certain level. I believe that knowledge and understanding does much to paralyze fear. If we understand something, it is far less likely we will be afraid of it. That is not to say it will not create anxiety or apprehension, but it will not be as likely for us to succumb to the tendency to fall into a state of inaction, because we fear the possible outcomes.
Fear is not always terrifying. It could be a more subtle form as described by Mr. Wiesel in this quote. Many may think: I fear that my voice will not make a difference, therefore I will throw up my hands in resignation and cry "what's the use?"
Many people fear that they will be wasting their time, if they write their Congressman, if they take a chance on a business, or some other such thing. But how does one ever really know, unless one tries? How can we really know what our true potential is, except we make an effort to see it?
Resigning one's self to a state of apathy, also causes a cessation in growth and makes us susceptible for grievous wolves who like to come in, and make us dependent upon them. Any ideology or dogma that facilitates laziness and dependence will also bleed the conquering spirit from anyone who allows them to do so. The more apathetic and less driven the individual, the better chance of becoming an automaton, as described in our first quote.
Addendum:
Check out Mustang's Sunday Reflection for some added value.
2 comments:
Governments have long understood fear; how to use it against the people to achieve government ends. Not all of this has been part of an insidious program to transform us in to automatons; some fear is justified. The problem is that people are unable to reason, which is a legitimate concern; people do not know when the government is manipulating them. Was there a real and present danger with the Soviet Union? Yes, there was. Is there a real and present danger with China today? Absolutely. Do Muslim extremists really seek to kill the American infidel, and impose Shar’ia Law upon the western societies? Yes, they do. We know these things because the facts are clear.
Is the world ending because human beings expel too much carbon dioxide? No; and the sky isn’t falling either. But it is true that, ” Resigning one's self to a state of apathy, also causes a cessation in growth and makes us susceptible for grievous wolves who like to come in, and make us dependent upon them.” This is the only explanation for Øbama’s election. People have stopped thinking for themselves, or they resign themselves that the problem is beyond their control. They have become automatons, but this is the last thing we need in America today. First, we cannot fix the planet until we first fix ourselves. Secondly, we need an educated constituency, people who refuse to accept political solutions as they only choice. Government is never a solution, but it is most often THE problem at both the micro and macro level. Wake up, people. It’s okay to get mad if you channel that energy in a positive manner … such as voting out the entire House of Representatives in 2010. That would be a good first step.
Bravo, LA … and thank you for the link.
This post is so relevant to my life. My wife and I had a fight, shes feels that all the protesting in the world won't change anything, that those in power don't care about what we want, that the politicians are going to do what they want, regardless of the protesting. Her argument is that trying to change the world is a waste of time. Shes also afraid some government agent is going to come and kill me for my "radical" views. I said if one shows up to kill me, then that proves everything I've ever said is true.
I told her that if I give up my free speech out of fear of repercussion than I don't deserve freedom or security. I also said that if the government kills me, I will have died defending her rights. To me thats an honorable death.
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