OFAL

First they came …

“First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out –
      Because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out –
      Because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out –
      Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me – and there was no one left to speak for me.”  – Martin Niemoller

A modern rewording may be needed. I’m sure there are many possibilities for the first verse (I’d propose 8chan). But the second and third could easily be Trump and Parler. Are you and I next to have our ability to communicate removed?

Free flow of information is the only safeguard against Tyranny

“Beware of he who would deny you access to information, for in his heart he deems himself your master.”  – Pravin Lal

To deny you access to information is to deny you the ability to make informed decisions. And by controlling what information you do have is an attempt to control what you can think. A thinking mind should be able to identify repugnant ideas when encountered. Yet if they have nothing to compare with, even the worst idea may seem justified.

Good Men to Do Nothing

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing”  – Edmund Burke (maybe)

Evil is a busy concept, always rushing to accomplish much. How much are you doing about it? I freely admit I’m not doing enough, but I make no claims to be a good man. Yet even in my failings I attempt to stop evil when I encounter it.

We shall fight

“We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender”  – Winston Churchill

As with everything worth anything in life, we must fight to achieve it. There are the small fights: to get up in the morning, to be of good cheer, to NOT eat the last doughnut. And there are the larger fights: to work day after day, to love your neighbor as yourself, to actually communicate with those who you disagree with. Ideally fights using words and ideas. In such a way that even those that ‘lose’ have gained through the experience. But when words fail, ideas are buried, and voices are silenced?

A republic, if you can keep it…

“Doctor, what have we got? A republic or a monarchy?”
To which Franklin supposedly responded, with a rejoinder at once witty and ominous: “A republic, if you can keep it.”  – Benjamin Franklin

We will only have a Republic so long as good men are willing to fight (and die, when necessary) to maintain it. As soon as that is no longer true? Evil will sweep it away and tyranny will return, under whatever name is in fashion at the time. As history has shown, too many times.

Sunday’s coming…

  – S.M. Lockridge

As bad as things may be, as hopeless as they may appear, there is always hope. God has a plan, and Sunday is coming. We just have to endure through the Friday’s of life. But should the Friday’s become more then mere mortals can endure?

Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness

“But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”  – Declaration of Independence

Wiser men then I have provided the blueprint, if such a terrible situation were to occur again. I hope and pray it will never come to that. Even as I fear we are heading in that direction.

Fear No Evil

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil”  – David