OPINION – One of the greatest truths I’ve ever learned came from a cave man. It is found in the film “10,000 B.C.” and consists of a powerful bit of dialogue that has great relevance in our time.
The film is set in prehistoric times and tells the story of two young nomads growing up together. After becoming the leader of the tribe, one of the young men faces an almost impossible challenge when a more highly advanced civilization kidnaps and enslaves many of his people.
As he wrestles with his doubts about being able to lead his remaining tribesmen to free the captives, his best friend describes the choice that is before him. He reminds him that, “a good man draws a circle around himself and cares for those within. His woman, his children. Other men draw a larger circle and bring within their brothers and sisters. But some men have a great destiny. They must draw around themselves a circle that includes many, many more. Your father was one of those men. You must decide for yourself whether you are, as well.”
I’ve thought about this quote as I increasingly hear from people beginning to awaken to the reality of our seemingly impossible challenge. Our challenge is maintaining what remains of our freedom in the face of a highly organized, well-funded foe.
Our foe is not a foreign invader; it is our own government claiming authority to torture us, rendition us, search, seize, silence and hold us without trial or simply kill us by drone. As Jack Baruth says, “If you’re not feeling sick to your stomach, you’re not thinking about it hard enough.”
This is the moment of decision for those who value their liberty. People who have broken the trance that our nation appears to be under are finally asking the question, “How can I possibly make a difference?”
Writing to our representatives is not enough. This is because leaders at the state and federal levels generally give their full attention only to those who preface their remarks with a sizable check. Our efforts to influence government would best be spent building relationships and regularly communicating with our local civic leaders. But there is more we can do.
Find a way to positively build freedom. Do something that will really, truly help the cause of goodness and freedom. Seriously, if you care about freedom, do something to promote it. Something good. Something uplifting. Something positive. I don’t know what you should do, but put your talents, gifts, time and resources to work for freedom. Figure out the best way you can truly influence freedom, and do it.
There is no perfectly correct one-size-fits-all answer, but action is preferable to reaction or inaction.
The key to taking action is to begin right where we are even if it moves us out of our comfort zone. We must be willing to take that first step even if we don’t know where our feet will land. People who truly commit will attest that the Universe moves to meet us when we take that step.
A good start would be to simply open our mouths. The best place to start is by communicating with the people within our closest circle of influence starting with our family members.
Do we discuss what freedom is and why it matters with our spouses and our children? Would they understand why, as Der Spiegel puts it, “a monitored human being is not a free one? If we’re not clear on a specific principle, we have a duty to read and study until we’re empowered.
Whatever we choose to do must be driven by purpose. When we act with purpose, our fear vanishes, our vision becomes more focused, and our influence expands.
Leonard Read once observed that “the power of attraction — of attracting others follows all self-improvement as faithfully as does one’s shadow.” Edmund Burke would agree. He said, “example is the school of mankind; it will learn at no other.”
We cannot always recognize the impact of our efforts because we don’t always know who is paying attention. Many people would be shocked to understand the degree that their influence has benefited others.
Each of us must decide whether we will use our influence to preserve our freedoms or remain silent with an apathetic majority. How wide we were willing draw our circle of influence may one day either vindicate or condemn us.
Bryan Hyde is a news commentator and co-host of the Perspectives talk show on Fox News 1450 AM 93.1 FM. The opinions stated in this article are his and not representative of St. George News.
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @youcancallmebry
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2013, all rights reserved.
Thanks Bryan ,I needed that little talk.
I usually try to roll with the punches , accept and respect as much as my conscience will allow ,but it is becoming more difficult on a daily basis.
Keep those encouragements coming. I am thinking many of us need them.
See, now that’s exactly the right way to go about it. The mob will take care of freedom, which is why the world will always return to democracy and morality. Common sense reminds us that modern day drone strikes and cyber surveillance must rely in the main on electric power from coal plants and dams, both of which are badly in need of maintenance. There is no battery backup worth mentioning that can keep these things running, and probably never will be. Finally, all of these machines need willing citizens to operate them. No government has sustained extreme rot for long without falling into civil war or simply falling apart, or ceasing to exist. Where can you point to in history where a government which spies on it’s people and enslaves them has lasted for more than a few generations?
Thanks, Bryan.
I always like what you have to say. I need to hear this more often too. It really is about the individual finding purpose and acting upon it. Being a doer and not sitting on the sidelines waiting. Reading the Declaration yesterday for Independence Day really makes one think about what my responsibilities really are right now.