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Tyranny of One, Tyranny of AllThe Day That Changed the WorldWritten by Darrell Anderson. I’ve heard many times since September 11, 2001 how that day has changed the world forever and how nobody will be the same again. Yes, I have changed, but the politicians and bureaucrats haven’t. The causes of that infamous day were the illusions and misconceptions of political ideologies. That idiocy continues. The tragic events of that day did not change the world forever, but instead exclaimed the total failure of the philosophy of statism. Almost everybody knows how most people react and think around bullies. Bullying is nothing more than intentional trespass. During their lives most people have experienced a bully or two, usually as a child while being forced to attend the statist school system. Somebody a little bigger, or a lot bigger, walks up to you and makes demands or begins mocking and teasing you. Mom taught you “sticks and stones,” but you noticed right away how empty that jingle was with the bully. Some how, some way, in some manner or another, the bullying one day mercifully ends. American politicians act the same way, as well as bureaucrats and so-called military “leaders.” A few talking heads develop a bully “foreign policy” and the next thing everybody notices is people flying passenger jets into tall buildings. Then people walk around in a cloud and ask, “Why? Why do people hate Americans?” I recall the infamous day. I was traveling on the road and as usual for me, I had not listened to the radio. I had checked the weather report on the internet a few hours before departing and before the attacks. I often enjoy traveling in silence, allowing me a chance to think and philosophize. Thus, I was oblivious to the momentous events. For some reason I decided to check the radio that morning, unbeknownst to me about an hour or so after the attacks. Within a few minutes I knew something was awry because every station had news reporters speaking. I was traveling to a client’s site, and by the time I got there, security and barricades already were in place. Guards were tight-lipped, and although I have no respect for statism, I knew that my primary mission for the next couple of hours was to keep my mouth shut. Everybody was walking in a cloud and shortly after I arrived, site managers instructed all non-essential personnel to go home. A few days later, while on my property cutting firewood, a neighbor stopped by (there was no football that following weekend — boredom ran rampant across the land). All was well until the individual made some comment about those “f-cking Arabs.” I stated I did not want to discuss the issue. He continued as though I had said nothing. I repeated my desire. He continued. I quickly was enraged. Words were heatedly exchanged. The neighbor headed to his truck with a head of steam, greatly angered that I would not take sides and join his pity party (that there was no football). Sadly, I had been quietly predicting something sinister for several years. Because I do not keep my head in the sand and enjoy reading about history, I was not surprised by what had happened. Saddened yes, surprised no. Before taking off and spinning tires to throw gravel at me, my neighbor hollered, “Why don’t you go and live with them f-ckers!” I held up two fingers and verbally reminded him I had already done so — twice. Twice I have lived in Muslim territories and I enjoyed the people. They enjoyed me too. I walked their streets without a second thought about my safety. I sat in their coffee shops and tea houses and watched old men play backgammon. I walked to the bakery built with old stone ovens to savor a fresh, warm loaf of bread. I walked in their shopping bazaars and “haggled” over prices. What I distinctly remember was although they liked me and I liked them, the people didn’t like the military and politicians (both foreign and domestic) telling them what to do. In other words, they didn’t hate me, they hated statism, politics and bullies. Nothing changes. My relationship with the neighbor has gone to pot, and frankly, I don’t care. Seems that nothing I have said the past many years has had any effect on his thought processes. In one ear and out the other as the old adage goes. I see too many people living with their heads in the sand. They refuse to open their eyes. The six o’clock spin doctors are demi-gods. Yes, I have changed, but much of the world hasn’t because those acts were just part of the never-ending struggle between freedom fighters and statists. Since that infamous day I have sometimes found myself sitting, thinking, or reading, and some thought or sentence will send me into tears — like an electrical switch, the change is that fast. I will utter this carefully, but every time that happens, I am all too aware of those two short words in the Christian Bible, “Jesus wept.” I weep too. For eggheads who refuse to let people alone to live quiet and peaceable lives. For people who refuse to open their eyes. For all people who must decide if they are “for us or against us.” Jesus of Nazareth reportedly declared to “let the dead bury the dead.” Joshua of the Hebrews reportedly challenged his fellow people to “choose you this day whom you will serve.” Wise words regardless of the original context or who uttered them. Several years ago much of America witnessed a brutal police beating. Out of that beating came the phrase, “Can’t we just get along?” The line became a joke of sorts among certain circles. Yet, that simple question summarizes the struggle of all humans, and pointedly explains why Jesus of Nazareth wept. And why I weep. Unlike the falsehood perpetuated by the politicians and spin doctors, the people who attacked that infamous day do not hate freedom. They hate not having the same freedoms because of politicians and international corporate executives who interfere with their lives. Why do a handful of people in the world insist upon interfering with the quiet and peaceable lives of other people? Why do they insist upon violently usurping rights? Why do they insist upon creating so much hate and discontent in the world? Why do they insist upon stealing under the color of law? Why do so many people support such people? One day my heart will fail to beat and my eyelids will close forever. As I draw that last breath I only hope when that moment arrives that by not participating in legal plunder and statism that I can look back and say, “It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known.” Finis. Next: Democracy |
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