“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.”
– Mother Teresa
Yesterday, I found myself listening to a podcast by Jack Spirko of the Survival Podcast. It’s my boyfriend’s favorite. Spirko comes from a Libertarian point of view, and was sharing a letter from a teacher who quit her profession because she could no longer bare her inability to implement change. The federally mandated, achievement based model of teaching is no longer congruent with her desire to extend an empathetic-encouragement based method of schooling.
No child left behind? She claims that the current model of education is degrading our children’s ability to think on their own, and ultimately their sense of self-worth. Bullying and suicide are on the rise. Or worse, we see children so much in pain, that out of the blue, they carry a kitchen knife to school and butcher everyone in sight. Without cultural change, Columbines and Sandy Hooks are just the tip of the iceberg.
Further, on the heels of the Clive Bundy BLM Scandal, Spirko went on to report about another outrageous government seizure.
Apparently, a woman in Maryland sat waiting for her state and federal income tax refunds. Instead, she got a letter stating that the feds had confiscated both refund checks to satisfy a supposed debt owed by her dead mother! The Treasury seized $2,996 dollars from this woman – who has siblings by the way – for survivor benefits paid to her mother more than 30 years ago for an alleged overpayment in 1977 !! And when confronted, Social Security claims they have no records to document the alleged overpayment that Treasury seized !!!
Spriko was outraged on his podcast. And so should we all be!
Yet, Jack writes: “The most depressing thing I have to tell you is that at least 9 out of 10 Americans are asleep, don’t care or think their side of the crime syndicate is the solution. 90% of Americans are either controlled by the system, don’t care about anything anyway, or simply feel totally defeated and have accepted their sorry state of affairs. Thinking: If I can’t vote for change, if I can’t wake up the masses and if I can’t trust either side, what the hell can I do?”
Yet, here we are.
As I wrote yesterday: Each of our souls chose to incarnate into this life time. We are here, living right now, for a reason! We aren’t here to sit around on our behinds, numbing ourselves out with TV and wine.
Our generation is here to ensure that the children of tomorrow can lead happy lives, as productive citizens of a caring culture, backed by a government which defends our liberties instead of taking them away.
We must find the courage to change, as I wrote about yesterday. When we inherently know something is wrong, we need to do something about it !!
I applaud the vigilantes who came from miles away to support Clive Bundy. It’s my opinion that the Edward Snowdens of this world should be made heros, instead of being charged with treason. Rebel photographers against Ag Gag laws should receive Nobel Peace Prizes.
These people of character define what it means to be courageous.
What can we as individuals do to start making impact in our society? To overcome our feeling of helplessness?
Here’s 11 Things you can do TODAY to foster change:
1. Get educated.
Without knowledge, very little can be accomplished. Take time to read the Constitution and The Declaration of Independence. Understand the vital issues of the day so that you can be cognizant of the threats to freedom. Stay informed about current events and legislation by way of television, the Internet and a variety of newspapers.
2. Get involved.
Seek out opportunities to voice your concerns and call on your government representatives to account for their actions. Call, write letters, sign petitions, visit their offices—do whatever it takes.
3. Get organized.
Read about the forming of the Continental Congress on September 5, 1774. A mastermind group formed initially by 2 men – Samuel Adams & John Hancock – would lead to the Independence of this great nation.
4. Be creative.
Think outside of the box. Even with limited resources, creative acts will not only get people’s attention, they will also attract the media’s attention and help you get your message to a larger audience.
The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence generated national coverage when it assembled 40,000 pairs of shoes of citizens killed by guns on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. An ordinary rally might not have been half as effective.
5. Use the media.
It is through the media—television, newspapers, Internet sites, bloggers and so on—that people find out about your growing resistance movement. Successful media campaigns are, above all else, entertaining.
6. Start brushfires for freedom.
Engage those around you in discussions about issues of importance. Challenge them to be part of a national dialogue. There is power in numbers. Politicians understand this. So get out there and start drumming up support.
7. Take action.
Be prepared to mobilize at a moment’s notice. It doesn’t matter who you are, where you’re located or what resources are at your disposal. What matters is that you recognize the problems and care enough to do something about them.
8. Be forward-thinking.
Beware of being so “in the moment” that you neglect to think of the bigger picture. Develop a vision for the future, and impart the value of freedom to younger generations, for they will be at the vanguard of these battles someday.
9. Develop fortitude.
What is it that led to the successful protest movements of the past headed by people such as Martin Luther King? Resolve. King refused to be put off. And when the time came, he was willing to take to the streets for what he believed and even go to jail if necessary. Would you be?
10. Be selfless and sacrificial.
Freedom is not free—there is always a price to be paid and a sacrifice to be made. If any movement is to be truly successful, it must be manned by individuals who seek a greater good and do not waver from their purposes. It will take boldness, courage and great sacrifice.
11. Remain optimistic and keep hope alive.
Although our rights are increasingly coming under attack, we still have certain freedoms. We can still fight back. We have the right to dissent, to protest and even to vigorously criticize or oppose the government and its laws. The Constitution guarantees us these rights. In a country such as the United States, a citizen armed with a knowledge of the Bill of Rights and the fortitude to stand and fight can be that single ant that overcomes the elephant.
But it will mean speaking out when others are silent.
Sources:
Jack Spirko and The Survival Podcast
http://www.thesurvivalpodcast.com/
The Rutherford Institute
https://www.rutherford.org/constitutional_corner/citizens_toolbox_what_you_can_do_to_save_america/
