Jul 07 2008
Why Are Americans So Willing to Give Up Freedom?
If you haven’t read Ligneus’s post on Adam Smith, do so. If men like that governed today in America, we wouldn’t have to deal with pompous pretenders like Obama or McCain. In the comments I remarked as follows:
“Must be the redneck in me, but i could never have conceived that so many would willingly throw down freedom”.
Indeed, it’s the fact that so many Americans are willing to allow the government to control their lives that has me flabbergasted. I have no answers for it, but “Just Another Richard” left an eloquent response, reproduced below.
Ah but zee, you fail to see the human capacity for self delusion, together with its ever faithful companion slothfulness. With a choice between a hard road and the easy way out, people will always rationalize the easy way…its so much simpler, after all, what’s to think about…be happy
The fact that, in the burdensome chores of struggle and endeavor, can be found our own redemption, where the sense of accomplishment can give meaning to existence, where the heavy load of actually thinking for yourself trains the mind to become self sufficient, to be an instrument of its own creation. To free the mind from the irrationality of conspiring minds and petty spiteful dogmas.
Now this does not always result in setting one’s self upon the right path, indeed, many an intellectual’s personal biography can attest to the wasted path to hedonism. But the mind, cautioned by reason and human dignity, aware of its own limitations in a cosmos of such vast and incomprehensible possibilities, does not flee from its own inconsequence, but embraces its own insignificance, for this in truth is what we are; to do otherwise is to rage against our very being, which as you can see, has such devastating and deleterious consequences, crushing aspiration and leaving shattered lives. Just look to those lost souls fleeing their very own lives in pursuit of a release by means of the excessive use of drink or drugs. There is nothing wrong in inconsequence, it is the natural state of being, IT IS LIFE. Those foolish ghosts, forever chasing the ephemeral illusion of fame, celebrity, fortune and power, are the natural born destroyers of what is most sacred in this earthly realm … LIFE.
Like many another, I too struggled in this life to find my meaning, to find my place, and just like most others, I too struggled with my fears, my failings and my doubts. But it was only when I reflected back upon my own soul, that I was able to discover myself. No outside bauble or trinket could satiate my hunger. No greater accumulation of wealth (hah…funny), no position of power in a hierarchy, could gain anything more than fleeting moments of respite from the longing. Only when I came to terms with myself, I cast off the goals of a shallow society, and recognized myself for what I was…just a simple individual, living out this tiny span, did I learn to accept myself on my terms and NOT someone else’s.
The fact that Marxism is a cult of death and destruction is obscured by the illusion that tomorrow we will be one step closer to Utopia if only we believe, is now indisputable and is the most cruel lie humanity could embrace. But for the mind that has cast aside all belief in any greater meaning, or indeed, any meaning, what is there left to do, for when such a mind looks inward it can be filled with nothing but fear and loathing, for there is nothing of substance to be found within; but to join in with the pack to create Utopia upon the hill tomorrow, gives meaning to an empty shell, a meaningless, and soul crushing existence, where that ultimate fear, greater even than the fear of death, must never be faced…the fear of facing one’s self.
I would only add that men cannot make the spiritual journey that Richard describes in a Marxist or Islamic society. The West grants men the freedom to find their way, or lose their way. Sadly, too many Americans are lost.
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Thank you zee.
I would like to say, that having attained some degree of contentment in this earthly existence, does not engender any sense of smug superiority, for I do indeed see, when viewing the foolish paths others have trodden, “there, but for the grace of God go I”. I should add, that having followed my own path has not given me any sense of absolution or entitlement, I am after all, a man of many failings and few accomplishments, and life for me is still as much of a struggle as it is for my neighbors; the difference is simply that I am at peace within myself, after all, just what is there to be smug about: and in that understanding is the true blessing of divine grace. Indeed, any time I find myself inclined to wallow in the sweet fragrance of my own virtue, I am reminded of many of those failings …very sobering it is too
Rouseau, never my favorite philosopher, did however come up with one or two sage pieces of advice, which we could all do well to live by, this one is particularly pertainent and strikes a sublime truth …
“Do not walk in the opinions of others, for therein lies the path to the destruction of your most noble soul”
Now of course, this must be understood not as a license for self gratification, debauchery and hedonism, but as a caution against the desire to gain acceptance by pleasing others. “Be true to thine own self”, in all things, except where sound reason and experience can lead you to see a better path.
I actually do not think genuine contentment is possible when smugness or arrogance is present. To be smug is simply to announce that you aren’t sure of a damn thing.
And that surety and peace has no price tag, can’t be learned from a book, and does not take deep root in shallow hearts. You are blessed to have achieved even a modicum of it.