Liberty.
This word has been on my mind for several weeks now. Following my introduction to Mr. Thoreau I realized that while this word had the power to evoke strong emotions in me I didn't have the ability to convey this concept to anyone. I had gone on to re-read the Declaration of Independence and at that point took it to heart that it was not only within my abilities but felt a deep responsibility to understand the concepts that drove the founders of our nation to their greatest cause - liberty.
"My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty."
~ Samuel Francis Smith
I like to imagine that at some point in our history this might have been true. Perhaps in the beginning when those who had been driven to take arms and put their lives on the line in pursuit of this ideal were still alive this concept may have lived in the hearts of those that governed. It seems that the depth of understanding has all but dissipated in the hearts of the governed now. I wonder who of all the people I meet each day can define the term liberty - even for themselves. I wonder which of them would be willing to put themselves on the line to defend it in truth.
I know that even in the beginning there were few who actually took up arms for the cause. Most people did what people do. They put their heads down and waited to align themselves with the victor. I walk among them daily knowing that at the sound of our anthem they will place their hands upon their hearts, they will say that they are proud to be Americans, they will wave their flags and sing along to the songbook of our heartland. They will not however open their eyes to the slow deterioration of their rights in any way that might halt the erosion.
I have to ask myself - how am I any different? I have these thoughts in my head. I don't ascribe these thoughts to those who walk seemingly blind through their days, but at the end of the day I know in my heart having these thoughts make me more guilty than any who do not.
"To know what is right and not to do it is the worst cowardice."
~ Confucious
Patrick Henry's speech from which the famous quote, "Give me liberty, or give me death," is credited with inspiring even those to whom we associate the love of liberty - the likes of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were in attendance as he spoke those words aloud publicly. I wonder what all of them would say were they to see the form that our government has now taken. I wonder what we have now by comparison, and what level of dissatisfaction is necessary before death is preferred to a lack of liberty. I wonder at the strength of this ideal for those who did not have it - to drive them to such lengths to attain it. I wonder at those who would chip away at the heart of what made this nation great, and how we as a people continue to turn a blind eye. I wonder at my place in this world, and what I can do to relieve this feeling that I am not living up to my responsibility to defend at the very least my own personal liberty.
I will be expanding on these thoughts more in future posts. This subject deserves some sincere meditation. Thinking about the ideal of liberty, it's cost and preservation have driven me to distraction lately. I know that I need to explore and expand my own depth of understanding, and a single post will not do this.
For now I'll leave with this quote that I have been pondering:
"I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it."
~ Thomas Jefferson
This word has been on my mind for several weeks now. Following my introduction to Mr. Thoreau I realized that while this word had the power to evoke strong emotions in me I didn't have the ability to convey this concept to anyone. I had gone on to re-read the Declaration of Independence and at that point took it to heart that it was not only within my abilities but felt a deep responsibility to understand the concepts that drove the founders of our nation to their greatest cause - liberty.
"My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty."
~ Samuel Francis Smith
I like to imagine that at some point in our history this might have been true. Perhaps in the beginning when those who had been driven to take arms and put their lives on the line in pursuit of this ideal were still alive this concept may have lived in the hearts of those that governed. It seems that the depth of understanding has all but dissipated in the hearts of the governed now. I wonder who of all the people I meet each day can define the term liberty - even for themselves. I wonder which of them would be willing to put themselves on the line to defend it in truth.
I know that even in the beginning there were few who actually took up arms for the cause. Most people did what people do. They put their heads down and waited to align themselves with the victor. I walk among them daily knowing that at the sound of our anthem they will place their hands upon their hearts, they will say that they are proud to be Americans, they will wave their flags and sing along to the songbook of our heartland. They will not however open their eyes to the slow deterioration of their rights in any way that might halt the erosion.
I have to ask myself - how am I any different? I have these thoughts in my head. I don't ascribe these thoughts to those who walk seemingly blind through their days, but at the end of the day I know in my heart having these thoughts make me more guilty than any who do not.
"To know what is right and not to do it is the worst cowardice."
~ Confucious
Patrick Henry's speech from which the famous quote, "Give me liberty, or give me death," is credited with inspiring even those to whom we associate the love of liberty - the likes of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were in attendance as he spoke those words aloud publicly. I wonder what all of them would say were they to see the form that our government has now taken. I wonder what we have now by comparison, and what level of dissatisfaction is necessary before death is preferred to a lack of liberty. I wonder at the strength of this ideal for those who did not have it - to drive them to such lengths to attain it. I wonder at those who would chip away at the heart of what made this nation great, and how we as a people continue to turn a blind eye. I wonder at my place in this world, and what I can do to relieve this feeling that I am not living up to my responsibility to defend at the very least my own personal liberty.
I will be expanding on these thoughts more in future posts. This subject deserves some sincere meditation. Thinking about the ideal of liberty, it's cost and preservation have driven me to distraction lately. I know that I need to explore and expand my own depth of understanding, and a single post will not do this.
For now I'll leave with this quote that I have been pondering:
"I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it."
~ Thomas Jefferson
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