As if by magic our liberty is stolen

"Whoever would overthrow the liberty 

of a nation must begin by subduing the freeness of speech."

Benjamin Franklin. American author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, inventor, civic activist, statesman, diplomat, and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States

Reflect on this headline, dear reader, and consider my often repeated observation that ‘there is nothing new under the Sun’. Liberty, as it was understood down the centuries, is being subdued all over the planet by those who would rule over us. As they have always done. 

Through the power of modern telecommunications our rulers apply their rules as if on steroids. And we allow them to do so. Until.

Until we see them as they are. Not as concerned beneficiaries for you and me but as self-interested egotists. The warning coming to us from days of yore is the same as ever: ‘Give them an inch and they will take a mile’. (Or the metric equivalent). So, why give them an inch?

Like so many of us I’ve heard the various leaders of the packs who strut their stuff in search of popular acclaim and endorsement. I’ve read their newspaper articles; I’ve even attended various public meetings where some have tried to cast their spells on their willing adherents. 

Perhaps, unbeknown to me, I’m becoming one of them because I write in an attempt to inform and wake others and cause minds to change. But I don’t want to be a leader. Not at my age.

What I want – what I really, really want – is to see the minds of family, friends, neighbours, community and country become AWARE and AWAKE to the diet of lies fed to them each day. I want them to ask WHO, WHAT, WHY, WHEN. 
Children do it naturally all the time. Adults are too often too sophisticated (meaning un-natural) and too defensive of their own supposed status (meaning their pride) to stop and reflect. We have too few quiet moments in among the hurly-burly of work, family and other responsibilities. Think Simon and Garfunkel and their 59th Street Bridge Song (Feeling Groovy). “Slow down, you move too fast.”

I think, too, of the words of media interrogator Sir Robin Day when he interviewed the then Defence Secretary, John Nott, at the time of the Falklands War. 

(See https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/4727494/Why-I-walked-out-on-Robin-Day.html)

John Nott begins his explanation with the words: “MOST politicians have five minutes of fame before they disappear forever.” We, lemmings that we are, allow them their five minutes (figuratively speaking) and we and our children and grand children reap the whirlwind. Even that proverbial expression isn’t new. Look it up in the Old Testament, Hosea, chapter 8, verse 7. It’s in the book!

Then think about the actions and words of our current Prime Minister, and our current Leader of the Opposition; the Leader of any other party you care to identify – all of them are here today and will be gone tomorrow, and our descendents will bear the benefits and the consequences which are our legacy UNLESS WE STAND AND INSIST that ‘they’ STOP.  Cease and desist, as my old Head Master used to say. Better still, don’t allow them access-to-your-mind-time. Or, as Groucho Marx said: “I don’t want to join any club that would have me as a member.” 

Why? Because their assumptions and assertions are no better than yours or mine. In essence, time and time again they assert, in effect, ‘I’m right and you are wrong . . .  unless you agree with me . . . in which case both of us are right.’  Rarely do ‘they’ admit that they are wrong. Why would they? They want your vote.

Groucho Marx also said; “Who are you going to believe? Me, or your own eyes?” Already the day is upon us when only ‘they’ are permitted freeness of speech. Everyone else is guilty of an –ism. And –isms aren’t allowed.  That has to be worth thinking about.

* * *

And there is nothing new under the Sun.

REALISE WITH REAL EYES THE REAL LIES

Next time – what can we do about it?