Freedom isn't comfortable. We live in a world of comfort. I say this as I'm lying in bed typing on my laptop. We like soft beds. We like squishy insoles in our shoes. We like instant and fast internet access everywhere we go. And, I really don't think there's anything wrong with being comfortable, wanting comfort, and providing for others' comfort. But I do see many ways in which that interferes with freedom.
It's a lot easier to simply believe propaganda, or to do as you're told, than to stand for a cause. It's easier to go with the flow than to be a true freedom fighter. I think this is why people believe the stories about how the current war on terror is actually promoting freedom for US citizens. I think it's why people want to believe that our soldiers who are fighting in the Middle East are actually somehow preserving our freedom.
The truth is often inconvenient. We don't want to know that temperatures are rising globally. We don't want to know what the wars we're fighting are really about. We don't want to know what laws are being passed in Congress and how they are a serious threat to the very concept of freedom. And, even if we do know, we don't want to do or say anything about it because that's too difficult or it puts you in the spotlight, where you don't want to be.
And, ironically, there's all sorts of doublethink going on as well. We talk about how freedom doesn't come free and everything, and so we convince ourselves (because we are told to) that that's why our soldiers are fighting--because they need to fight to protect freedom. When, all the while, the very government that's sending our troops to allegedly fight for our freedoms is also signing documents that are specifically designed to take our freedoms away. But we don't want to know that last part. We want to just think that our freedoms are being fought for by the brave men and women in the armed forces.
Now, don't get me wrong, the men and women in the armed forces are brave. And I'm sure they do their duty very well. I am proud to share my nationality with people who are so willing to do what they need to do in order to protect their fellow nationals. And I do not blame them for fighting a vain war. I blame the people sending them into the vain war. I blame those who promote such needless killing.
At any rate, it's far easier for us to think that some soldiers off in a far country are fighting for our freedoms for us so that we don't have to do anything about it. It would be far more inconvenient for us to actually study the issues at hand and actually effect change in our government. Unfortunately, we like to weed out unpleasant or inconvenient things. If it's too hard, I don't want to do it. If someone disagrees with me, I don't want to talk to them. If it's an idea different from the one I was taught since I was a child or different than the one that's written in the Bible, then I don't want to hear it at all.
Fight for freedom the right way. Learn truth. The truth will set you free. Understand what's going on in the world. Expose yourself to differing viewpoints--even when your cognitive dissonance kicks in and you start deflecting or denying any new information you're handled simply because it contradicts your current world view. Don't just believe what you see on the TV. Don't just believe the propaganda about the war on terror and the war on drugs. Dig deeper.
It's a lot easier to simply believe propaganda, or to do as you're told, than to stand for a cause. It's easier to go with the flow than to be a true freedom fighter. I think this is why people believe the stories about how the current war on terror is actually promoting freedom for US citizens. I think it's why people want to believe that our soldiers who are fighting in the Middle East are actually somehow preserving our freedom.
The truth is often inconvenient. We don't want to know that temperatures are rising globally. We don't want to know what the wars we're fighting are really about. We don't want to know what laws are being passed in Congress and how they are a serious threat to the very concept of freedom. And, even if we do know, we don't want to do or say anything about it because that's too difficult or it puts you in the spotlight, where you don't want to be.
And, ironically, there's all sorts of doublethink going on as well. We talk about how freedom doesn't come free and everything, and so we convince ourselves (because we are told to) that that's why our soldiers are fighting--because they need to fight to protect freedom. When, all the while, the very government that's sending our troops to allegedly fight for our freedoms is also signing documents that are specifically designed to take our freedoms away. But we don't want to know that last part. We want to just think that our freedoms are being fought for by the brave men and women in the armed forces.
Now, don't get me wrong, the men and women in the armed forces are brave. And I'm sure they do their duty very well. I am proud to share my nationality with people who are so willing to do what they need to do in order to protect their fellow nationals. And I do not blame them for fighting a vain war. I blame the people sending them into the vain war. I blame those who promote such needless killing.
At any rate, it's far easier for us to think that some soldiers off in a far country are fighting for our freedoms for us so that we don't have to do anything about it. It would be far more inconvenient for us to actually study the issues at hand and actually effect change in our government. Unfortunately, we like to weed out unpleasant or inconvenient things. If it's too hard, I don't want to do it. If someone disagrees with me, I don't want to talk to them. If it's an idea different from the one I was taught since I was a child or different than the one that's written in the Bible, then I don't want to hear it at all.
Fight for freedom the right way. Learn truth. The truth will set you free. Understand what's going on in the world. Expose yourself to differing viewpoints--even when your cognitive dissonance kicks in and you start deflecting or denying any new information you're handled simply because it contradicts your current world view. Don't just believe what you see on the TV. Don't just believe the propaganda about the war on terror and the war on drugs. Dig deeper.
I enjoy your opinions and emotions in your articles. I enjoy your call to people to open their minds and dig deeper. I would like to ask one thing. I would like to SEE how you have dug deeper and what you have found. I would love to see specifics. i think it would help people who want to open their minds do so. just being told to do so is the first step. Some people need to be pushed more.
ReplyDeleteThis is true. And perhaps I will. But I do want people to think for themselves and arrive at their own conclusions. I don't want to be accused telling people what to think--at least not anymore than I can already be accused of that for voicing my own opinions so forcefully. That's why I was intentionally vague and non-specific in this post.
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