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Applewood's Blog

by Applewood from Little Elm

Last Post 271 days, 1 hour Ago


The greatest freedom denied
Oct 3, 2007 | 11:46 AM
Category: Political
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Stop for a moment and ponder upon the freedoms that are so often touted by our leaders.  We hear about the freedoms of speech, self-expression, the pursuit of happiness, health, prosperity, and so on and on and on………..

 

 A there is a greater freedom that has been lost and it is in the name of our country.  Bear with me while I build my case.

 

Religion

 

There are so many Christian denominations that it is hard to count them.  The Moslems are so divided that they are killing each other over their differences.  The Jews are divided into at least three very distinct groups.

 

 Business

 

 Businesses today emphasize team work within, but are totally focused on segmenting the market, even so far as down to the individual.

 

 Government

 

 The politicians are segregated into republicans, democrats, libertarians, then segmented into right wing, left wing, moderate, progressive, conservative and so on… Further, the rhetoric tends to force people to take positions within one of these segments.

 

 Social

 

 Society is segmented by education (with several segments within that), sexual orientation, race, religion, and ethnicity to name a few.

 

 Economic

 

 Classes: Prosperous, middle class, impoverished   

 Having done a marginal job of listing the ways that we are segmented/divided in this country, I would point out that the one thing that every one of the groups listed above depend on for success is polarization/segmentation.  I think that it is safe to say that any group of people that begin to show signs of unity is immediately labeled as extremist, unenlightened, intolerant, or in some way that tends to marginalize them

 

 Humans from the times of the hunter gatherer have only found strength in unity.  We as individuals are weak and generally ineffective.  Without unity it is safe to say that the predators of the animal kingdom would have made our appearance on earth brief.

 

 It is interesting to me to observe that whether it’s business, government, religion, or education the leaders of each group and paradoxically acting together have an interest in keeping us focused on individuality rather than unity.  In unity, people have strength.  As individuals, we can be controlled.

 

 I submit to you that the greatest freedom that we have lost is that of UNITY.  This cannot be an accident.  This country is morphing and it is doing so by keeping us, focused on ourselves and our individual rights.  While we focus on our individual rights, the rights of this country are being slowly but surely taken away.  This is quite a paradox, but the methodology is sitting right in front of us and yet we can't see it.

 

 

9 Comments |  Add a Comment

Member Comments Total Comments: 9
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ONELANGUAGE read my blog
Oct 3, 2007 | 12:32 PM

Your right
Gurkha read my blog
Oct 3, 2007 | 1:43 PM

You, sir, are wrong! Are you for monolithic society?
Here is how i would counter your points:
Regligion: It is good that everyone can find a religion/belief that drives them. The problem is tolerance, not division of different religion. People need to realise the fact that ultimately, basic message of all religious groups are exactly the same.
Economic: Its good that we have different economic class so the one at the bottom can strive to get to the top. And those on high econ bracket keep getting motivated so they don't fall to lower bracket. Job segmentation is done primarily for the purpose of division of labor (Adam Smith's theory), where laborers could focus more on what he/she is efficient at doing. I would put business on this group as well.
Social: Break down is good based on our country's history (minority rights) and also the fact that we could focus more on the group that's lagging behind.
Govt. (Politics): Again, tolerance and compromise are the most important factors here. We can have different school of thought but if you have Right wingers and Leftists who fail to compromise, thats when the problem arises. Also, if the extreme group's philosophies go too far to hurt the society and individuals, that's when the check and balance is required.
Finally, differences are good but we need to be more sympathetic, compromising, tolerant to other ideas, people, faith etc. etc.
Now pay me for educating you!
Applewood read my blog view my photos
Oct 3, 2007 | 2:05 PM

No payment forthcoming.

I do not espouse a monolithic society. Far from it. I support differing points of view. I also support the right of people to take a stand.

If a society becomes able to tolerate and compromise with every concept, every person, and every thing then that society has lost any definition and stands for absolutely NOTHING. In other words it is totally corrupt.

I see your logic. I don't agree with all of it, especially your comments of religion; however, I believe that you are missing my point. My point is not that differences are bad, it is that those differences are being manipulated for less than honorable reasons.
putonyourbigpants read my blog view my photos
Oct 3, 2007 | 2:12 PM

To divide and conquer is a methodology as old as time. It is affective, and will be used over and over again. Its been going on for at least the last 30 yrs in the USA. It started in the sixtys, and will continue. Nothing said or voted on will have an impact in sueading one or the others partys or stances. It will, as it usually does, take a tragic occurance, or worse, to make this country come together again. Until that happens, there will be pettiy arguing, bashing, and finger pointing.
Buckle up, keep arms and legs inside the cart, and hold on. It wont be over for a very long time.
taxidriveroncheers read my blog
Oct 3, 2007 | 8:30 PM

Its ok for people to be different.
thats what makes us unique.

As long as people respect themselves they would respect others.
They dont so we have problems.

If we keep the government small we have freedom.
solarman75228 read my blog view my photos
Oct 4, 2007 | 12:35 AM

i like your blog, but this unity you talk about hasn't ever been, it's always been this group against that one
Applewood read my blog view my photos
Oct 4, 2007 | 9:08 AM

There is a generation of people in this country who have always differed in approach and opinion, but they have always managed to pull together as Americans. Diversity was and is valued as a strength to this generation.

There is another generation that speaks with pride about diversity, but does not tolerate any desent. This generation views itself as global and being an American is a nebulous term that only has meaning to it in terms of residential location. This is the generation that purposefully pits group against group.

This latter generation's focus is to take away from those who have, and reward those who won't. This generation while speaking of diversity with pride, wants everyone to be the same. They speak of diversity with pride while at the same time creating schisms were there were none.

I am not confused about the fact that people are and will always be different. That does not translate that those same people cannot be unified in cause and energy. The groups that I mentioned above are using and emphasizing schisms to prevent unity in order to accomplish agendas that in the end benefit only a few.
cjl1618 read my blog view my photos
Oct 4, 2007 | 9:30 AM

We used to be Americans before all else. Now we are segmented to the point that being just a plain old American seems somehow out of step.

We have lost what made us strong. Businesses used to look out for the good of the country, the good of their workers, etc..now they look out for their profits. Religions all insist that their way is the only way.

We are told daily that we are part of the world market of both ideas and commerce, but that very notion puts being an American on the back burner.
The good of the nation does not much come into play with one "free trade" deal after another.

We have lost the very ability to feed ourselves and to make those things the country needs. Our dependence on others for our survival as a nation assures our downfall.

We have millions of people in this country that feel America is the problem - not the solution. I say that being a ___-American is the problem.

All great civilizations at some point fail. They fail because they take for granted all that made them great. We are at the beginning of that process, and I fear for my child and her someday children. America seems to be lost.
furbie read my blog view my photos
Oct 4, 2007 | 10:26 AM

All I can say is : "I'm glad most of my life is over with."

With all the idiots that have led this country into the mess we're in now, I can only imagine how bad it will be in the years to come !
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