As everyone should be well aware, there have been many extreme changes to the world economy in the last few years, partially in part due to COVID-19 and the nearly world-wide shutdown of commerce and travel. Obviously, this type of action would have a huge impact on the quantity, quality, and cost of all goods and services. Not just that, but it was used as the sleight of hand, so to speak, to usher in major changes to our governments and politics and help in what was called for years prior, a fundamental change to American society, government, and understanding.
Why do I mention this?
Because, as much as many people might not want to admit this, politics is absolutely important for every citizen to be involved in and understand, even if just a little bit.
Now, as we all know, political topics can become heated and considered controversial, especially when discussing the truth of American history, the truth of America’s founding—the context of why and how—and when discussing the repeated and consistent dismal history of certain “ism’s” as they’ve been implemented in different nations throughout the world and the history of civilization. But did you know that religion is also considered taboo to discuss? Yet, it is also important in our society in America, and it is a foundational pillar to what we claim to believe and follow when it comes to morality, ethics, and the laws of the land.
But if these two topics, especially politics, are so important, then why do most people run from them, and why are we told not to speak of them?
Well, first, I think these two topics (politics and religion) are often considered controversial and taboo due to our teaching from those in authority to avoid them so we might avoid any possible confrontation, potential outcry of intolerance, and for political correctness—to not offend someone (we will talk a little more about this in the upcoming podcast series from the From My Standpoint podcast when we discuss the Ten Commandments).
But have you ever wondered why someone in authority, especially political or educational authority, might tell you, teach you, or force you to not speak of or get too involved with politics? Sometimes I’ve wondered if it's to keep control. I mean, if you don’t get involved, then laws can be passed and politicians can change your land without much opposition, especially from those who were taught and obeyed to not get involved in politics.
As novelist Martha Gellhorn is quoted, “People often say, with pride, ‘I’m not interested in politics.’ They might as well say, ‘I’m not interested in my standard of living, my health, my job, my rights, my freedoms, my future, or any future.’”
It’s true. Politics is what governs our land; it is what restricts our freedoms and liberties; it is what is used to gain power for those who were never intended to wield such power. Politics is the very thing that guides and influences the policies of government; it’s the art of "winning and holding control over a government,” and it is “the art or science of government,” as Merriam-Webster states it.
If you are not interested in politics, then you are not interested in your standard of living, because political policy is what helps cause inflation, as we have seen inflation vastly increase in the last three years, and as we’ve seen since our indifference in previous generations of politics and political policy is what led to our economic system moving away from the gold standard and toward the privately held federal reserve. The only standard left is the very word of the Federal Government, which has proven itself to be less than trustworthy. If you are not interested in politics, then you are not interested in your health, as we’ve seen political policy fundamentally change from freedom of choice to forceful compliance under financial penalties and from lower costs to increases again; if you’re not interested in politics, then you’re not interested in your rights, freedoms, or future because your rights come from God, not man, but man will always try to limit and strip you of your rights, and your future—the future of your country—hangs in the balance of political policy: politics.
How do we become complacent with ignorance, silent in our stance for freedom and liberty, and absent from the course of our future?
Well, contrary to the old and parroted belief that tolerance, open-mindedness, truth, and love are important, valued, and held in high esteem, speaking an opinion, belief, fact, the truth, a perception, or using logic outside of the accepted circle of current culture (partially due to political correctness), is often viewed as offensive, intolerant, closed-minded, a big lie, and hate. For example, all “truths” are true, and we must respect and value and be “new” tolerant of all people’s “truth,” except if that “truth” is deemed politically incorrect by the political “truth” we are reeducated with for defying that political “truth” in the first place, and except for certain truths termed religious. In those cases, intolerance, closed-mindedness, big lies, and hate are permissible in order to ensure that all deny the truth for “their truth” and not speak of religious or certain political topics that those in authority deem politically incorrect.
I have learned that, and history supports this, when a political power begins to censor speech and incorrectly deputize citizens who toe the line to be the judge, jury, and executioner of liberty, freedom, and God-given rights, to help usher in a contrary fundamental change, we should understand these two topics—religion and politics—become even more important, and it is essential that the citizens rejoin these conversations, hold onto liberty and freedom and the future, and that these two topics are vital to the pulse of a nation.
Remember, tolerance is not affirmation, participation, or agreement; it is, as defined by Webster, “to recognize and respect without sharing them and to bear or put up with.” To recognize and respect another’s freedom to believe something different without having to affirm or participate in such beliefs.
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