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The Goal Ahead

Posted in Quote, tagged Thomas Jeffeson on October 17, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude.

–Thomas Jefferson

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I came across this image of a painting from a number of years ago that I have always really liked and have always felt an immediate response to my interpretation of it. It always reads the same to me, a sentiment that pretty much jibes with the quote from Jefferson above. So often we live as though we are flotsam on the sea, aimlessly adrift on currents that we don’t control. I know I have been guilty of this at points in my life. None of my actions at those times were leading in any specific direction and at times made me feel as though I were in a whirlpool that kept spinning me in all directions, leaving me confused and despondent.

A goal is purpose, a reason for every step forward. A reason to fight for every day, every moment we have on this earth. Once we have a goal, a purpose, time becomes precious. Without purpose, time becomes meaningless.

That’s what I immediately see in this piece and it always tweaks me a bit, gets me thinking about how I might be drifting away from my own purpose and how my own time becomes ever more precious with every passing day. It is a gentle slap on the cheek for me to move, to take action now.

And I will. Have a great day.

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Angry Mob

Posted in Current Events, tagged Thomas Jeffeson on August 11, 2009| Leave a Comment »

Oh, my mistake. They’re a group of concerned citizens raising valid, well thought out points in civil public debates about changes to our health care system.

At least that’s what they’re screaming at the top of their lungs.

It’s hard to watch these town hall debacles. I have yet to hear one cogent point raised by any of the screaming mass of citizens. Haven’t heard anything based on what has truly been put forth yet.

I hear “death panels” and “socialism” and “euthanasia.” I hear a lot of fear, many even saying outright that they fear Obama.

Baracknaphobia.

Now, some of those who prod this mob forward use the Thomas Jefferson quote- When the people fear the government, it is tyranny. When the government fears the people it is liberty- as proof that indeed this government is tyrannical and will kill your Granny, your baby and all your houseplants. It must be- the people fear it.

The problem is that this is misguided fear fed by misinformation that plays to the most basal, instinctual fears of the sheep in this flock. They are not afraid of the government, they’re afraid of the unknown and that is a powerful fear. Unfortunately, it the one that is easiest to stir by those who wish to maintain the status quo. They play to the weaknesses of those who will join the flock, sometimes using a clouded racism to vilify Obama then screaming that the other side always plays the race card. It is an easily fed, gullible mob.

I haven’t seen enough of anything yet proposed to get too worked up over. I voted on the premise that there would be fundamental changes to some of the systems that run our country and I’m eager to see these changes. I have no fear of the unknown in this case. Rather, I am more afraid of maintaining things as they now are.

And that includes the mob of the dull-witted and unreasoning.

Addenda: My friend David Terrenoire had a great link in his Dark Planet blog today, to a rant from someone who has faced the currently existing death panels. It says everything. Check it out.