The times, they are a-changin,’ as
Bob Dylan once said. There are numerous troubling trends in American society
today, nearly all of which have a central theme: we have lost our lust for
freedom and are content to have government take care of us. Here are just a few
examples:
1)
A new study by the Foundation for Individual
Rights in Education (FIRE) found that 75% of institutions of higher learning in
America censor comments on their social media pages, a clear violation of the
First Amendment. Moreover, nearly
9 of 10 block users, using content filters that include “matters of local
and national concern, campus controversies, criticism of colleges’ corporate
partners or sports teams, and even the weather,” according to a summary report of the study.
Well, we certainly don’t want to put up with criticism of our field hockey
squad, and no one wants to be subjected to reports of bad weather, so it’s
understandable. But seriously, what the hell are they afraid of?
2)
Beginning May 1st, San Diego required
all residents to wear face
masks when they step outside their homes and are within six feet of
non-household members. This despite the fact that California has been
relatively untouched by the COVID-19 pandemic and that even the states that
were hit hard are starting to loosen up restrictions. San Diego County
Supervisor Nathan Fletcher stated: “We believe this is going to be a part of
life in the new normal. Now is the time, the voluntary compliance is over and
now it is time for strict compliance throughout all communities.” Why? “Until
such time when we have a vaccine or a widely available therapeutic drug, there
are going to be parts of life that are going to change. Getting in the habit of
having a face covering when you leave your house—that’s going to be part of the
change.” How convenient for Muslims. And burglars.
3)
According to NewBostonPost, a recent poll shows
that the number of young Americans who consider themselves to be “patriotic”
has fallen dramatically just since 2002, from 89% to 63%. Of course, far more
of those identifying as Republican professed to be proud of their country than
did those identifying as Democrats or independents. Harvard freshman Katie
Heintz, who worked on the poll, noted that Republicans were “far more likely to
associate patriotism with positive attributes” such as “loyalty” and
“responsibility,” while Democrats associate it with “things like racism,
xenophobia, and ignorance.” Ironically, many of the young Democratic-Socialists
couldn’t spell ignorance if they were spotted the “ignor” and the
“ance.”
We have survived numerous other pandemics
and crises without deliberately destroying our economies and making everyone
hide under their bed. The Spanish Flu outbreak of 1918-1919 was a true
pandemic. As was the Asian Flu (sound familiar) outbreak of 1957, which took
the lives of approximately 113,000 Americans, the percentage equivalent of
180,000 today. Another massive flu outbreak occurred in 1968…and again in
2009, with H1N1. Yet, no shelter-at-home orders were given, funerals weren’t
broken up, weddings prohibited and lone paddleboarders arrested. Stores and
restaurants weren’t closed, nor were other “non-essential” businesses shut
down. People could buy seeds and find toilet paper. So, why? Why has the
reaction to this pandemic, this crisis, been so stunningly different? Why are
so many shaking their heads and wondering what has changed? Why does everything
surrounding it seem so surreal and vaguely disturbing, over and above the
illness and death itself?
One reason is the alacrity and gusto with
which governments— federal, state and local—have seized upon the crisis to
control their citizens behavior. But there is another reason, one which makes
possible the one just mentioned. An extraordinarily large percentage of
people—especially younger people— now admit to having no religion. The
percentage of professed Christians in the United States has dropped
precipitously in the past several decades. Consequently, people are more
afraid. In losing their religion and Judeo-Christian values, they have lost the
comfort that belief in God can bring. Since so many now don’t believe in Heaven
or an afterlife, they fear death, even though they do not love life.
The American
Revolution ushered in an unprecedented era of prosperity and freedom, lasting
well over 200 years, one that greatly benefitted not only the United States,
but large portions of the globe. The Revolution was based on the concept of
natural rights and the principle of limited government, of, by and for
the people. Those concepts are now all but forgotten, the Revolution finally over.
The American
Devolution has begun.
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