Tag Archives: freedom

Principled Means, Principled Ends

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These are precarious times.  We find ourselves confronted with growing social and economic instability and an uncertain future.  We do not want to sit on our hands.  Yet, unprecedented complexity and uncertainty make it impossible to know what to expect.

How easy it would be to let emotions rule, tipping the future into chaos and endangering the very goals we wish to secure.

It is with this in mind that I take up where I left off in the previous post (June 9).  I see two pragmatic reasons why political violence will not get Americans where we want to go.  One is tactical.  The second is strategic – and the more important.

Any patriot preparing today for armed resistance in the tradition of 1776 will pit himself against an extraordinary opponent.  He will be outmaneuvered and outgunned by fully militarized police possessing the most advanced surveillance technology and backed by massive firepower.

The mythic ideal of the citizen soldier remains deeply engrained in the American psyche.  But the plain fact is, if you imagine a heroic Star Wars scenario in defense of freedom and justice you are indulging in fantasy.

I am not interested in arguing about this because there is a much bigger problem, and it is this:  Who exactly do you intend to fight?

American law enforcement agencies and the United States military are served by loyal, committed Americans.   These are our people, our sons and daughters, friends and neighbors.  They are working people, they have families, and they care about the future.

It is our responsibility to win them over, not beat them up.  They should be approached respectfully, with persuasive argument and attractive example.

As I wrote here last week, violence committed by Americans against Americans would contradict the rationale behind the impetus to violence itself.   It would be self-contradictory, pitting us against one another and subverting the integrity and viability of the American Idea as a guiding force for the good.

Our views on politics or government, the integrity of the Constitution, or the corruption of principles, are all serious matters.  But, public servants, police officers and bureaucrats are not the problem.

We must respect these people, not just as a matter of principle, but because we need them. They are essential to a constructive solution.

Americans are not to be persuaded when we are attacked, not for some high-minded cause or anything else.  When faced with hostility we naturally close ranks, and clear thinking stops.

Even the misguided rebellion of tiny splinter groups will be destructive to the cause of liberty.  Any resort to force can easily lead to cascading consequences in which violence begets violence in a downward spiral, tearing the fabric of the republic and threatening the progress of constructive action.

Furthermore, it is simply not necessary.

Change is needed that is real, lasting, and built on the solid ground of dependable communities – not quicksand.  I never said this would be easy, so let me be clear – the skills, attitudes, and discipline that create and build community are at the heart of what we need to learn to create and build the future.

This is more than a matter of survival.  For thousands of years community has formed the foundation of civilization.  The essential concern in the present hour, and the basis by which to judge constructive action, must be the spirit and the quality of the future we wish for.  It is the means that determine the end.

This is not a theoretical nicety, but hard-nosed truth.  Understanding it will determine success or failure.

We are capable of being decent, patient and forbearing, of cooperating to resolve practical problems and even saving each others’ lives.  Personal principles, values and views must certainly be respected.  But, rising above our differences will be essential if we are to identify shared values, ensure comprehensive security, and begin to build a stable social economy for the future.

Going to war with our fellow citizens would make no sense.  Indeed, the ends we seek could be delayed by decades and possibly destroyed by impractical or intemperate courses of action.

Tom

Next week: A Foundation Based on Values

A note to regular readers: Thank you for all the comments, ideas, and perspectives shared in recent weeks, especially on the Facebook page.  You are a valuable “reality test” for me as a writer.  This project would be impossible without you.

Ends and Means…

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“The principle that the ends justify the means is in individualist ethics regarded as the denial of all morals”

–F. A. Hayek

“He who chooses the beginning of the road chooses the place it leads to.  It is the means that determine the end.”

–Harry Emerson Fosdick

“An attempt to achieve the good by force is like an attempt to provide a man with a picture gallery at the price of cutting out his eyes.”

–Ayn Rand

“They say ‘means are after all means’.  I would say ‘means are after all everything’.  As the means, so the end.”

–Mohandas Gandhi

“The first sign of corruption in a society that is still alive is that the end justifies the means.”

–Georges Bernanos

 

The Second Amendment, Then and Now

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The Bill of Rights, which includes the first ten amendments to the Constitution, was first proposed to Congress by James Madison as articles to be incorporated into the main body of the Constitution.

Congress approved twelve articles of amendment to the Constitution in 1789 and submitted them to the states for ratification.  Contrary to Madison’s proposal, they were submitted as “supplemental” additions.  Articles Three through Twelve were ratified by the required number of states and became Amendments One through Ten in 1791.

The Second Amendment, which has become a matter of considerable interest in recent years, reads as follows:

“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

This was not controversial at the time.  The concept existed in English common law long before the enactment of the Bill of Rights.  And, many Americans feel it necessary to own firearms today.

The importance of this issue to the Founders was quite clear.  James Madison, who introduced the language that became the Second Amendment, also wrote that “The Constitution preserves the advantage of being armed which Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation where the governments are afraid to trust the people with arms.”

Alexander Hamilton, like Madison a strong advocate for Federalism, was equally explicit: “The constitution shall never be construed…to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms.”

Thomas Jefferson famously said: “No freeman shall be debarred the use of arms.” And he also wrote that “The strongest reason for the people to retain their right to keep and bear arms is as a last resort to protect themselves against tyranny in government.”

During the years just prior to the Revolutionary War there was mob violence in several of the colonies.  In addition, many Americans lived in or close to wilderness regions where conditions were essentially lawless.  The need people felt to protect their families was quite rational.

It should be noted that a primary motivation for supporting “a well regulated Militia,” articulated in the Second Amendment as “being necessary to the security of a free State,” was the strong opposition among the Founders to the concept of a standing army.

Thomas Jefferson put it this way: “None but an armed nation can dispense with a standing army.  To keep ours armed and disciplined is therefore at all times important.” “Every citizen should be a soldier,” he wrote. “This was the case with the Greeks and Romans, and must be that of every free state.”

The American reality in 1776 and 1791 was entirely different from that confronting us today.  Yet, news of social and religious violence imposes on our peace every day.  Older Americans are particularly sensitized to what has changed: the radical loss of trust and the lack of civility, ethical integrity, and social responsibility we see everywhere.

We must acknowledge the compelling reasons why so many feel it necessary to possess firearms.

It is in this context that I have expressed my concern about threats of force made or implied in the name of political ends.  We already face dangerous instability, a condition that can only grow worse as conditions deteriorate.

Unfortunately, I expect it will ultimately be demonstrated for all to see – that the pursuit of violence will produce exactly the opposite of its intended purpose.  Such destructiveness will set us back immeasurably.

There is a dynamic relationship between means and ends.  The character of the ends we seek will be determined by the character of the means with which we seek them.

Violence committed by Americans against Americans would contradict the rationale behind the impetus to violence itself.   It would be self-contradictory, pitting brother and sister against brother and sister, subverting the integrity and viability of the American Idea as a guiding force for the good.

We can do better.

Both our purpose and our means need to be carefully considered, and we need to get it right.  We face an extended period of sequential crises.  Many dark and dangerous things are possible.

Tom

Next week: Principled Means, Principled Ends

To build or destroy…

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“To build may have to be the slow and laborious task of years.  To destroy can be the thoughtless act of a single day.”

–Winston Churchill

 

 

 

Security and the Use of Force

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I will address two considerations involving the potential use of force in defending ourselves.  The first is related to the security of our families and communities, the topic of recent blog posts. The second relates to our ultimate purpose, the effective means by which the foundations of the American Republic can be secured and strengthened.

I will consider the first in this post and the second in the coming weeks.

I have mentioned several security issues that will concern us if the current deterioration of the economy and social order continues.  While food security may be the most likely serious threat to a community, the most unpredictable danger will be the unstable individual or group approaching from outside.

Whether unexpected visitors might be psychopathic, motivated by religious or political ideology, or simply in a state of desperate need, may not be immediately apparent.

We would do well to deal with visitors in a respectful and humane manner, while remaining cautious and defensive.  The potential danger is real.  We must respond judiciously and communicate clearly, while summoning fellow community members for assistance.

In my view, we would also do well to remain sensitive to any positive value that might be presenting itself.  New faces will sometimes come to us with good character and valuable skills.

Graceful hospitality will always set the right tone, even if a visit needs to be kept brief.  Some of us have better verbal skills than others, or possess more disarming personalities.  Others may have weapons training or know martial arts.

An effective set of tools is offered by Target Focus Training (TFT), which includes physical skills for personal defense against lethal weapons.

If we keep weapons in the home we must manage them with utmost care.  Any weapon is an ever-present liability when kept in close proximity to our families.  Emotions can run high when we experience hardship.  As we all know, a gun can easily kill a loved one, even without an external threat.

In addition to first aid training, which is essential, each of us can gain conflict management and other defensive skills, both verbal and combative.  We would be well-advised to prepare ourselves well in advance.  A list of self-determined guidelines and personal thresholds for action can be memorized in preparation for the unexpected.

To the extent possible, our conscious purpose should not only include safety and survival, but also the ultimate concern for which we are living.

Courage is a priceless virtue.  Not the courage to fight, but the courage to care.  It takes a brave heart to make peace, but compassion must be buttressed by backbone.

Women sometimes embrace this balance with natural equanimity, but the presence of danger must never be forgotten.

Approaching difficult encounters with a positive attitude is an ability that can save lives.  This can make the difference between friendship and enmity, between collaboration and catastrophe.

We have entered a long crisis.  People are coming unhinged.  We will often encounter the walking-wounded, and danger will not always be obvious.

We will meet good people who have lost hope or are grieving deeply.  They may appear abrupt or angry at first.  We may not be sure who or what they are, but will soon come to realize that we need not fear them.

Each of us is wounded in some way.

I think most of us understand that this is not about being nice or even socially responsible.  This is about treating one another with mutual respect as Americans.  It is about reconstructing the United States as the kind of country we want to live in – one soul at a time.

It all comes down to purpose: Security requires preparedness; rebuilding the foundations requires grace.

We cannot afford to live in a state of siege behind walls that isolate us and appear hostile to others.  To give in to fear and retreat into defensive enclaves of survivalists would be to admit defeat.

Let us rather win over the confused, heal the wounded, and welcome the returning prodigal friend.  This is the true path to security.

Mature leadership greets each day with an open heart and an inclusive vision.

Tom

Next week:  A Severe Choice

 

Hard Realities, Practical Necessities

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Americans know that something is wrong.  We can feel it.  It is easy to place blame; there is a lot to find fault with.  But, many of us sense that something profound is happening, something that goes far deeper than the headlines, something that has been a long time coming.

For the majority of Americans, social and economic conditions have been deteriorating for a long time.  We are increasingly vulnerable to potential systemic disruptions.  Some threats are obvious; others lie hidden in a complex web of instability.

Our failure to prepare reflects a lack of both information and imagination.  We accept the present as normal, even when it is unhealthy, distorted, or dangerous.  Most of us expect that every day will be like the last.

To recognize that something is not right, or that current circumstances could lead to pain, requires some imagination.  This can be overdone, of course.  But, so too can carelessness.

Imagination applied rationally is a survival skill.  Let me offer an example.

James Rickards is a monetary economist who advises the Department of Defense and the CIA concerning terrorist threats to the global monetary system and financial markets. Writing about our well-equipped intelligence agencies, staffed by smart people who are intent on protecting the United States, he tells us that these agencies were monitoring most of the individuals who subsequently carried out the 9/11 attacks.

Analysts were aware that several were being trained to fly airplanes.  In short, the intelligence community had the information it needed to warn of the impending attack.

The only thing missing, says Rickards, was imagination.

That our family and friends think we are being alarmist when we express concerns about the future is easy to understand.  They are human.  At some point we may need to care for them, so we must trust our perceptions and think through the implications.

There are numerous resources available, in bookstores and on the web, which can help us prepare for a long crisis.

However, this blog (and book project) is focused instead on the personal, social, and relational challenges involved: the effort to build dependable communities, and to accept moral responsibility in an increasingly disrupted and desperate world.

Local communities can organize themselves around felt-needs, when we are ready to rise above our differences.  But, having little positive experience working with groups can be a problem when trouble strikes.

We may have experienced community in a church group, club, or sporting pastime, but not usually in the immediate neighborhood where we live, and not in the face of threats to our safety and well-being.

A dependable bond among neighbors will be necessary to meet essential needs.  But, most of us do not know our neighbors and cannot depend on them.  We might not even have introduced ourselves to those we see regularly on the street or in the grocery store.

Our natural inclination to be independent and to avoid troublesome arrangements has led to the widespread loss of local associations and trustworthy relationships.

For many decades there have been few compelling reasons for Americans to seek meaningful community with our neighbors. Yet, when things stop working we will have no one to depend on except each other.

If we are to find safety and security in a crisis, it will be necessary to develop a range of interpersonal and organizational skills, and hopefully some technical knowledge as well.

Most of us can learn how to grow food, or at least to work with others who do.  But, as the crisis deepens we will discover necessities we had not thought about.  Organizing our lives without electricity or a functional sewage system or safe drinking water will require that we cooperate to solve problems, and in some cases solve them quickly.

It will be this personal engagement with one another, forced by hard realities, which will bring Americans together where we belong – as good neighbors in our communities.

Hiding under a rock might feel like a good idea in a shooting war, but it will not lead to the kind of world most of us want to live in.

Tom

Next week:  Security and the Use of Force.

A note to new readers:  Blog entries adapted from the forthcoming book are posted on most Fridays at the main blog site and on the Facebook page.  To receive alerts by email you may click “Follow” in the column on the right.

Stability and Constructive Action

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Security concerns increase with social instability in the world around us.  Our safety and well-being will ultimately depend, as I observed in the previous post, upon the stability and trustworthiness of the conditions we put in place around us.

Stability and security are mutually reinforcing, but without stability any effort to increase security is futile.  Stability makes our efforts to create security possible, and it benefits from those efforts.

It is natural to think that security must come first, but actually it is the other way around.  The key to security is effective community and the value of our personal investment in each other.

The first priority for any stable community is the strength of interpersonal relationships. These form the basis for trust, for good communication and effective problem-solving.

Dependable community depends on dependable relationships.

Americans are used to thinking of security as the responsibility of trained professionals who are expected to deal with emergency situations.  That is because we have been accustomed to stable institutions and dependable systems.

This may not always be true.  Things we have taken for granted in the past may become emergency concerns – if we are not prepared for them.

Food security is an important example.  Supermarkets typically limit their distribution centers to a three-day supply.  If the supply chain is disrupted and their vendors are unable to deliver, we are in trouble.

Unless we use our imaginations, the interruption of systems we take for granted will catch us off guard.  A systemic disruption could be caused by an Ebola-type epidemic, a cyber-attack on the banking system or national grid, a global monetary crisis, or any number of other reasons.

These are not unreasonable possibilities.

In my view, we would do well to think about the implications – from public health threats and emergency medicine to the need for a cash economy.  Building dependable networks of support among neighboring communities will also be important.

Knowing how to work effectively in groups will be key.  This will mean developing personal skills. Group decision-making and resolving interpersonal conflicts need not be traumatic ordeals, if we have acquired the necessary skills.

We are quite capable of preparing ourselves if we remain purposeful and ready to learn.  In the coming months I will discuss additional challenges we are likely to face, and tools to address them.

I have written of the importance of such virtues as trustworthiness, dependability, and responsibility.  I expect these make sense to you.  But, I have also introduced an idea that might seem novel, which I call “constructive action.”  And, last week I argued that stability is not possible without forward motion.

Why are motion and constructive action indispensable to our endeavors?

Think of it this way: Keeping our balance while riding a bicycle requires forward motion.  In any community, business, or organization, activity guided by a sense of purpose serves a similar function.  No social group can sustain coherence or affectionate ties unsupported by vision and purpose.

We will face two important areas of consideration as we consolidate our communities: What we do and how we do it.  The concept of constructive action concerns the latter – the way we can work together effectively.

This has a direct bearing on security.  To put it simply, constructive action is about being constructive rather than destructive, building rather than tearing down, freeing rather than oppressing.

A constructive approach requires a positive attitude and will contribute to improved safety and well-being.  Destructive actions and a negative attitude will set us back, the results of emotional reaction rather than rational purposefulness.

One leads toward the ends we seek; the other pushes us farther away.

Shared purpose is a lens through which the challenges of necessity can be brought into focus and the efforts of diverse personalities can be coordinated.  Shared purpose provides a standard by which a community can judge priorities and progress.

With sufficient willpower and discipline, each of us can develop our skills and learn how to do this.  And, a positive attitude will support rational thinking and a constructive way forward.

Tom

Next week:  Hard realities, practical necessities

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Foundations for Security

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In seeking security for those we care for – access to food and clean water, the safety of our children, or a defense against a collapsing civil order – we would do well to consider the qualities of order and stability that security requires.

Safety depends on the conditions we put in place around us, and therefore upon our ability to provide for necessities and to create a dependable environment.  This will not be possible without active trustworthy relationships with our neighbors.

With deteriorating social and economic conditions we will be exposed to the failure of institutions and systems we have depended on for basic needs.  Our neighborhoods may feel less safe.  Police protection may become less dependable.  We are likely to see some of our fellow citizens become disoriented and lose their balance.

We may be required to organize our communities effectively to meet needs and resolve practical problems.

It may also be wise to think carefully and rationally about the potential for sociopathic violence.  But, let’s be clear: The possibility for violence is only one among a wide range of security concerns.  In the coming weeks I will touch on some of these, including ways we can both prepare for and limit violence.

As we experience increasing social and economic disorder, I expect it will become increasingly clear that we must assume responsibility for our own necessities.

Food security will be a major problem if we do not learn how to produce and preserve food.  Hunger is not fun and hungry people are often not very nice.

The greatest test for some may be the sudden recognition that we do not really know how to be self-sufficient.  Our well-being will depend on how we respond to these challenges.  And so, as we find our way forward in a new reality it will become apparent that the requirements of security are in fact the requirements of stable communities.

That said, let’s be realistic about the relative nature of security.

President Dwight Eisenhower, a five star general, reminded us of the limits: “If you want total security,” he said, “go to prison. There you’re fed, clothed, given medical care and so on. The only thing lacking… is freedom.”

Like President Eisenhower, Helen Keller also had a way of putting things in perspective.  Being both deaf and blind gave her insights into life that the rest of us would do well to think about.

“Security is mostly a superstition,” she said. “It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it.  Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure.  Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.”

Fear can interfere with our ability to address problems and to keep our heads clear in difficult circumstances.  However, security concerns certainly do need to be addressed to keep our families safe and our communities productive.

I suggest that a sequence of responsibilities applies to local communities:  Freedom depends on security, which depends on stability, which in turn depends upon honesty, trust, dependability, and forbearance.

There is one other essential component as well, which I call “constructive action.”  By this I mean the active condition in which dependable working relationships develop.  We have already discussed the critical importance of trust and dependability at length.  These depend on constructive action, guided by principle and a sense of purpose.

Principle and purpose cannot exist frozen in time.  I believe stability is only possible when we are in motion.

Constructive action supported by a shared sense of purpose will be the only way to navigate through dark times.  For family and community, a stable foundation is our first priority.  Constructive action allows us dynamic flexibility in responding to what the world throws at us.

All of this will depend on our readiness to work closely with people we have differences with. We cannot be tentative about it.  Building trustworthy communities will not be easy.  Our future depends on it.

Tom

Dear readers:  In the coming weeks I will consider several issues related to security for families and communities.  I look forward to your comments and constructive feedback; this project would be impossible without you.

Walking the Talk

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Big corporations often seem to behave with disregard for the humanity of citizens and community.  Geared to function with a singular profit-making intensity that is resistant to compromise, these are not human creatures.

Living with a dominant corporate culture, we find ourselves perceived as economic units, “consumers” pressed into service by a materialist mindset.

And so we have been isolated from one another, forced apart by social forces that are difficult to overcome.  The personal experience of meaning and interconnectedness that civil society depends upon has evaporated.

Americans need not submit to such a sorry destiny.

Independence is always relative, but it is an attitude and a choice.  Self-sufficiency could actually become a matter of life or death.  It can mean food security or financial stability or being a good parent.  Its’ meaning will take on new dimensions when crises strike.  But, there is much more to it than survival.

It is in community and in the quality of our active relationships that we form the matrix of a free society.  Freedom is realized in serving a principled purpose, and in the vitality of lives that are engaged and in motion.

It is in productive interaction with others that ideas are shared and problem-solving is most effective.  In trustworthy relationships, self-sufficiency gains strength and dependability.

But, are we willing to take this on?

We might not want to put up with community.  A few try to avoid it all together.  But, it is impossible to completely ignore it – unless we take snowshoes, an axe and a rifle, and walk into the wilderness.

I know how attractive solitude can be.  I also know that it would deny me the opportunity to grow as an individual, as well as the honor and adventure of dedication to the country I love.

Historically, the basic building blocks of the American Republic have been communities. And, the bonds that held everything together were the personal relationships that make communities work.

Communities are formed by the inspiration and determination of individuals and families, interwoven into mutually supportive networks, and networks of networks.  And, no, it will not be easy to regain what came to us so naturally in the past.

Let me state again, however, that the ultimate visionary force can only be that loyalty to the American Idea that welcomes diversity and rejects hostile divisiveness.

Americans are accustomed to contentious politics and unconstrained partisanship.  There will always be value in the clash of differing opinions.  However, we have entered a period of instability and potential danger.  It is time to rise above our differences in the interests of ensuring the balance and cohesion of the Republic.

We face the instability of extraordinary complexity, deteriorating infrastructure, and institutions that are trapped in the past.  Things are not going to work the way we think they should, and there will be no one to resolve the problems except ourselves.

If we are to rebuild a society in which the foolishness of the past is not repeated, we must think constructively about the qualities and principles that are needed.  Generosity and good will are essential human virtues.  We must keep them strong in our hearts, but help one another to understand why they are not enough.  Some things just don’t work.

Finding solutions to community problems will demand that we put our heads together.  It will require consultation, deliberation, and creative imagination.  And, it calls for the most diverse range of minds and perspectives possible.  The way to maximize effective problem-solving is to include people with a broad range of experience and practical skills.

This might sound idealistic.  In fact, it is the only way to restore a broken society.  Learning how to do it will be hard work, but people of good faith will always have the capacity to succeed.

We must hold our personal beliefs clearly in mind, while keeping in mind that we can expect less conflict and far greater security if we connect, listen and learn, understand and influence.

Holding ourselves apart from one another in disagreement while hurling insults can only reap destruction.  Engaging with one another can be extremely challenging, but there is no other way.

Tom

Next week: Foundations for security.

Finding Courage in Crisis

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The courage to step forward constructively in a time of crisis depends on our readiness to meet pain or frustration as a positive personal act.  This is not easy, especially when the world around us is self-destructing.

To persevere at such a time, our values and sense of personal integrity become very important.  And, beyond this, we are in need of a vision of the future that embodies our hopes and a purpose we believe in.

However, the immediate problems confronting us will usually present themselves in a social context. The deterioration of civil order will be a great challenge for us.

In my view, a commitment to the integrity of civil order is a commitment to ones’ own personal integrity.  Both commitments are guided by our values and sense of responsibility.  Both are essential components of a free society.

Each of us needs to think about who we are and what integrity means to us.  And this will require that we strengthen both our sense of self-sufficiency and our sense of purpose.

Self-sufficiency and purpose give us self-confidence, so both are important.  Self-sufficiency is about practical matters and will power.  But purpose has to do with ideas, and ideas can be problematic.  So, let’s think about this.

Purpose needs to remain responsive to change and creative thinking, as well as to our personal views.  Like the world around us, we are constantly responding and growing.  It is easy to attach ourselves unwittingly to ideas that are rooted in past circumstances and which no longer hold true.

There is both strength and danger here.

Most of us develop a firm commitment to certain ideas.  This has value, so long as we keep our minds open.  We need the capacity to stick to our beliefs and to follow through with plans.  Otherwise nothing would get done.

However, at a time of extraordinary disruption and change, when the future is hard to imagine, our intended direction will sometimes take unexpected turns – or disappear temporarily into a fog.

We know what kind of world we wish to live in, at least in general terms, but the details of the future will be veiled from view.  Why?  Because the emerging reality of the future is in constant motion.

This is why shared moral values and social principles in our communities are important.  A vision for the future needs to be built upon mutual respect and understanding, rather than on the assumptions of a crumbling past.

Even in the midst of chaos, “constructive action” can be understood as the means by which we progress toward our intended goals, not away from them.

So, let’s keep two priorities in mind:  First, to hold firmly to values capable of guiding us through turmoil.  Second, to stay alert, allowing flexibility of judgment and adjusting our thinking as conditions change.

If we believe in freedom we cannot allow presuppositions to set the future in concrete.  That is not what freedom is about.

Let’s be clear.  Assumptions that we carry with us from the past are dinosaurs that threaten our ability to create the future.  Our values and principles must be permitted to guide our way, based on the realities at hand.

We may dislike the conditions in which we find ourselves at any particular moment.  We may determine to alter them.  But, to be rigid and inflexible would court disaster.  Our independence as free people depends in large part on our capacity to engage effectively with ever-changing circumstances.

We are challenged to keep our balance at the vortex of an historic turning point.  Our values will support personal integrity, and our vision will determine the direction we seek as we traverse the storm.

If we wish to exercise our liberty fully as citizens, we must hold to a principled compassion, resist absolutism and bigotry, and adjust effectively to the flow of change.

To be free in the tumult of a great storm we must summon our courage to spread our wings and soar on the wind.

Tom

Next week:  Walking the talk.

A note to new readers:  Blog entries adapted from the forthcoming book are posted on most Fridays on both this site and the Facebook page.  To receive alerts by email you may click “Follow” on this site.

From Darkness to Light

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Without safe communities, and neighbors we can depend on, how will we find security for our families or begin to create a future we can believe in?  Tell me, please, in what other place do we have the freedom and the opportunity to build a stable civil order?

Do we imagine that a shining superhero will ride to our rescue?  Or will we, as I asked last week, pick ourselves up and do what needs to be done?

This is an uncompromising question.  Not to answer it, or to defer commitment, is in fact to answer it.  Failure to rise to necessity is to accept defeat.

Whatever our personality, our political philosophy or religious belief, the individual has an unavoidable choice to make.  Either we retreat into ourselves, accepting what is given as beyond our control, or we step forward to engage hardship and purpose with constructive intent.

This is a very personal choice, but at a time of existential crisis for the United States it takes on great importance – not only for ourselves, but for America and the world.

The United States has served as a model for governance and an engine of creative vitality that is unparalleled in human history.  The American idea has been a beacon of hope for people everywhere.  There has never been anything else like it.  And, the world is watching.

To hesitate here would be to respond as victims rather than as citizens.  It would be to choose loss over promise, helplessness over responsibility.  We may be temporarily intimidated by difficult circumstances.  But we must never give in and never lose sight of the dawn of the new day that even now lights the horizon.

Living with purpose gives us courage and inspiration.

I never said it will be easy.  It will not.  What I am saying is that we have no choice.  Without the courage to begin anew, we will join the slide into chaos.

Standing firm in the context of community does not isolate us from uncertainty.  It will provide only limited protection from the confusion around us.  What it does is keep us close to trustworthy and dependable friends and neighbors.

It positions us to best keep our balance, mentally and spiritually.  And, it keeps the potential for an American future alive.

Working with people is probably the most challenging part of life.  Choosing to take control of our destiny will require perseverance and forbearance – a readiness to exercise tolerance, patience, self-control.  Communicating effectively will become a necessity.

There will always be difficult people to test us.

Our job is not to be heroes.  Our job is to win over hearts and minds to the cause of safety, mutual respect, and rational governance.  Only then will it be possible for fear to give way to curiosity, for judgmental attitudes to be replaced with genuine listening and compassionate understanding.

Progress will come just one step at a time, and will often seem painfully slow.  Making a commitment to stay positive can require considerable resolve.  But, holding to the truth in our vision, focusing on productive purpose, and building trustworthy friendships – can make a very big difference.

The negativity that surrounds us may appear powerful, but in reality it can only exist in the absence of constructive action, and it only has the energy we grant it.  When we set out on a practical path and offer encouragement to others with a radiant spirit, we become as a light that pushes back the darkness.

If we are met with overbearing negativity, it may be wise to take our energy elsewhere.  But, we must never allow our vision to dim or our compassion to be compromised.

Darkness can always be countered with light.  Darkness is the absence of light and has no substance of its own.  The light of a small candle defies and defeats even the darkest night.

Tom

Next week:  Finding courage in crisis.

A note to new readers:  Blog entries adapted from the forthcoming book are posted on most Fridays at both this, the main blog site, and on the Facebook page.  To receive alerts by email you may click “Follow” on this site.

Never doubt that a small group…

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Background 5

“It does not take a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men.”

–Samuel Adams

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, concerned citizens can change the world.  Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.”

–Margaret Mead