Don’t Shackle America! Don’t Shackle Our Liberty!
At the feet of the Statue of Liberty lie a broken shackle and a broken chain. This tremendous symbol is unnoticed by almost all that gaze upon Lady Liberty. Frankly, it was many years before every citizen realized their liberty. It is easy to equate broken shackles with the abolition of slavery. Yet, the symbol means more than racially motivated bondage. The bondage of despotism attempts to encompass all races. For that reason, we must often shout, “Don’t shackle America!”
Experience is the best teacher of this truth. Part of that experience is episodes of failure. Yes, humanity needs to learn from our mistakes and our failures. Remember the failures from the past so that we won’t repeat them. Forgetting will shackle America because some fear failure so much that they allow the forging of shackles on liberty. They want the government to guarantee their success. Demagogues aspiring for political office play on our fear of failure and offer success. At the very least, they offer a safety net. We should remember that the government that can give you everything you want (including success or a safety net) is capable of taking everything you have away. That type of government shackles its citizens. Experience teaches us to avoid the shackles of socialism.
A healthy fear
Fear of an all-powerful government is a healthy fear and a beneficial trait necessary for self-preservation. Many countries shackled their citizens. The most egregious examples include:
- Marxism-Leninism of the Soviet Union,
- National Socialism of Nazi Germany,
- Maoism of Communist China,
- Chavez-Maduro socialism of Venezuela.
“Socialists promise a classless society but create prison camps. They assure peace but engage in wars of national liberation. Socialists abolish private property but depend upon the underground economy. They stamp out religion but worship Big Brother. They bring down corrupt dictators but institute a dictatorship of the Party.” – Lee Edwards, Ph.D.
Conversely, one should not run from a form of government totally because of fear but rather run toward a form of government that provides liberty and justice for all. Critics of America often cite the sins of our founders to delegitimize the nation. The writings of John Locke heavily influenced many of our founders. The opening sentence of John Locke’s First Treatise of Government reads as follows: “Slavery is so vile and miserable an estate of man, and so directly opposite to the generous temper and courage of our nation; that it is hardly to be conceived, that an Englishman, much less a gentleman, should plead for it.” He was writing in response to the proposal of the divine right of kings. Locke believed in humanity being ruled by law rather than humanity being ruled by a man.
Freedom, a celestial article
Disciples of John Locke, such as Thomas Paine, wrote to show the legitimacy to strive for freedom. In his book titled The American Crisis, Paine wrote on the first page, “These are times that try men souls. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods, and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated.”
Roger L. Simon recently wrote an opinion piece in the EPOCH TIMES titled “Pfizer, Biden, and the birth of Socialism With American Characteristics.” He draws attention to some stock activity that may not be approved if an ordinary investor did it. Since it was done by a large corporation helping the government, heads may look the other way. Mr. Simon contends that in modern China, “socialism can make you a plutocrat billionaire as long as you or sufficient numbers of your executives are members of the Chinese Communist Party and mouth “egalitarian” communist rhetoric, as ludicrously hypocritical as it is.” Simon adds that in the United States, “Ours will be a country governed by an alliance of corporate giants from tech to Big Pharma (see Pfizer) in league with self-described liberal or progressive politicians who profit directly and/or indirectly from them.” I do not know about Pfizer specifically. Yet, I agree with Mr. Simon in general terms regarding the alliance of corporate giants. I am confident Thomas Paine would agree also.
Slaves to Fear
Interestingly, Thomas Paine alluded to this in 1776. Paine wrote, “The more men have to lose, the less willing they are to venture. The rich are, in general, slaves to fear and submit to courtly power (or as in today’s climate, an oligarchy no longer moored to rights of the individual) with the trembling duplicity of a Spaniel.”
Roger L. Simon continued in his opinion piece, “The masses would remain, well, the masses. In other words, “Socialism with American Characteristics” would be post-modern serfdom.” Centuries before, Locke argued that God did not give one man the authority to subject himself forcibly over another. Paine argued that the masses must rise to grasp their freedom from servitude to a capricious ruler. As stated, Paine lacked confidence that owners of large businesses would have the fortitude to challenge an oppressive political infrastructure. So, in summary, to put in terms used by Mr. Simon, the serfs in America must prevail in the quest for freedom. For America to continue as we knew it, experience teaches us that failure is not an option. Otherwise, individuals will suffer as they did in the Soviet Union, Nazi Germany, and still suffer in Communist China and Venezuela.
Keep the shackles broken
To finally conclude, the broken shackles on the Statue of Liberty should remind us of this nation’s founding. A founding to break free from a capricious, vindictive king. Thus, forming a country that planted a catalyst seed (the Declaration of Independence) responsible for breaking all its citizens’ shackles. The basis that produced a war of independence and eventually a civil war to make all men free. We must not allow new restraints to take away our liberty. We must confront the socialists, and exclaim “Don’t Shackle America! Don’t Shackle Our Liberty!” To the demagogues, we must repeat, “Don’t Shackle America! Don’t Shackle Our Liberty!” And, to the fearful citizen, we comfort them with the same mantra, “Don’t Shackle America! Don’t Shackle Our Liberty!”