My Labels and George Orwell

I have been labeled many things by other people; none of which are true. Rather than go on about the misconception on their parts, I’m setting the record straight.

I am a moderate. I believe that both the Democrats and Republicans are at fault for the problems we suffer today. This is compounded by the blame game of “it’s their fault we can’t get things done.” Congress and Senate need to grow up and get over themselves.

So where does George Orwell come in? That’s the easy answer. Read his book 1984. Despite its age, t is still relevant today. If not, at least read this article by Justin King shared on Antimedia.org

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George Orwell is as accurate now as he was when 1984 was originally published, possibly even more so.

Justin King

(ANTIMEDIA) George Orwell ranks among the most profound social critics of the modern era. Some of his quotations, more than a half a century old, show the depth of understanding an enlightened mind can have about the future.

“In our age there is no such thing as ‘keeping out of politics.’ All issues are political issues, and politics itself is a mass of lies, evasions, folly, hatred and schizophrenia.”

Though many in the modern age have the will to bury their head in the sand when it comes to political matters, nobody can only concern themselves with the proverbial pebble in their shoe. If one is successful in avoiding politics, at some point the effects of the political decisions they abstained from participating in will reach their front door. More often than not, by that time the person has already lost whatever whisper of a voice the government has allowed them.

“All the war-propaganda, all the screaming and lies and hatred, comes invariably from people who are not fighting.”

Examining the nightly news in the run up to almost any military intervention will find scores of talking heads crying for blood to flow in the streets of some city the name of which they just learned to pronounce. Once the bullets start flying, those that clamored for war will still be safely on set bringing you up-to-the-minute coverage of the carnage while their stock in Raytheon climbs.

“War against a foreign country only happens when the moneyed classes think they are going to profit from it.”

It’s pretty self-explanatory and while it may be hard to swallow, it’s certainly true. All it takes is a quick look at who benefited from the recent wars waged by the United States to see George Orwell’s quip take life.

“The very concept of objective truth is fading out of the world. Lies will pass into history.”

My most prized books are a collection of history books from around the world. I have an Iraqi book that recounts the glory of Saddam Hussein’s victory over the United States in 1991. I have books from three different nations claiming that one of their citizens was the first to fly. As some of the most powerful nations in the world agree to let certain facts be “forgotten,” the trend will only get worse. History is written by the victor, and the victor will never be asked if he told the truth.

“In a time of deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.”

Even without commentary, the reader is probably picturing Edward Snowden or Chelsea Manning. The revolutions of the future will not be fought with bullets and explosives, but with little bits of data traveling around the world destroying the false narratives with which governments shackle their citizens.

“Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed: everything else is public relations.”

Make no mistake about it; if an article does not anger someone, it is nothing more than a public relations piece. Most of what passes for news today is little more than an official sounding advertisement for a product, service, or belief.

“In real life it is always the anvil that breaks the hammer…”

In every conflict, it is not the side that can inflict the most damage, but the side that can sustain the most damage that ultimately prevails. History is full of situations in which a military “won the battles but lost the war.”

“The nationalist not only does not disapprove of atrocities committed by his own side, but he has a remarkable capacity for not even hearing about them.”

Haditha. Panjwai. Maywand District. Mahmudiyah. These names probably don’t ring a bell, but it is almost a certainty that the reader is aware of the brutality that occurred in Benghazi. The main difference is that in the first four incidents, those committing the acts of brutality were wearing an American flag on their shoulder.

“Threats to freedom of speech, writing and action, though often trivial in isolation, are cumulative in their effect and, unless checked, lead to a general disrespect for the rights of the citizen.”

Everyday there is a new form of censorship or a new method of forcing people into self-censorship, and the people shrug it off because it only relates to a small minority. By the time the people realize their ability to express disapproval has been completely restricted, it may be too late. That brings us to George Orwell’s most haunting quote.

“If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face—forever.”

Once the people are indoctrinated with nationalistic beliefs, and the infrastructure to protect them from some constantly-changing and ever-expanding definition of an enemy is in place, there is no ability for the people to regain liberty. By the time all of the pieces are in place, not only is opportunity to regain freedom lost, but the will to achieve freedom has also evaporated. The reader will truly love Big Brother.

This article was originally posted on Antmedia.org at: http://theantimedia.org/10-george-orwell-quotes-that-predicted-life-in-2014-america/

ENOUGH!

I have kept mostly quiet until now. I think this needs to be said because I feel like there are groups out there about to and wanting to trample on my Constitutional Rights. For decades people cried for separation of church and state. They wanted the church out of the government. The opposite however was pretty much a non-issue. They barked about “separation of church and state!”

Well, today it is. Following the SCOTUS’ decision on marriage- there are those who are now demanding that the church be considered a political entity and therefore must lose the tax exempt status. THIS IS WRONG!!

What’s happening is hypocritical. You cannot demand the church stand down from political issues and then demand that the church be considered a political entity. To add salt to the injury- I’ve not seen anyone hold issue with the state putting its collective noses into the business of the church. Again- this is hypocritical.

The church- no matter what religion it’s affiliated with is NOT a political entity. It is a RELIGIOUS entity.

Why don’t these barkers just admit that what they want is an abolishment of the church? They won’t admit this because the US Constitution protects the freedom OF religion- not FROM it. This includes the right / choice not to worship.

That’s the bottom line for these people- They, much like a number of the atheists, want freedom FROM religion. That’s their right to have until they encroach on the rights of others who do want religion. They only care about what THEY want- no one else. And they will continue to push, and bully, and bark until they get what they want.

They need to be stopped- the time has come for the people to take a stand and say ENOUGH!

The Constitution protects people’s right to the religion of their choice, of the right to worship…..

NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO TAKE THIS AWAY!

And that is what these heathens are doing.

It is a violation of the rights of others. Perhaps they forget that their rights END where another’s begins. Think of this akin to personal space. For this comparison I’m using 3 feet.

Personal space is typically the radius of the body- that’s 3 feet around any one person. When this space overlaps between people- they are in each others personal space. With the exclusion of crowded spaces or lines- it’s generally understood that one must be ‘invited or welcomed’ into someone personal space- otherwise it’s seen as an intrusion.

This is why we have laws that protect our rights. Just as personal space is a measure around a person- there are laws to protect the freedom and liberty of our RIGHTS. And that includes religion.

I am a Baptist. I believe in the separation of church and state. I believe in the individuals right to choice and freedom OF religion. While I disagree with the Congressional ruling- I will respect a person’s rights. I ask the same in return. Sadly, I am not seeing this. What I see is people with an agenda to trample on the rights given to us by our forefathers. These people now have a law that allows them what they want and they want to take away the laws meant to protect people’s beliefs.

The emotional part of me says “what’s happening is that in their goal to come out of the closet- they are wanting to push religious people into the closet.”

They call it progress. This is NOT the sign of progress or of a maturing society. It is the sign of chaos.

Heidi Harris was right- these people don’t want equality. They want supremacy. And in that they want dominance.

This is my response to this article:

Western Journalism Article

Here’s a link to a friend’s pastor and what he has to say.