In his 1962 collection of essays Out of Step, in this case pertaining to one's FREEDOM and SELF-RESPECT, Frank Chodorov (1887-1966) brilliantly wrote, indicting American society then, of course applicably more so today...
"We talk a lot about freedom these days. When you dig to the bottom of this talk you realize that, first, very few know what freedom is and, secondly, still fewer want it. The fact is that what is generally called freedom consists of increases in wages (or handouts), more profits (or subsidies) and a bottomless abundance of privileges. For such things we—particularly the more affluent among us—are ready to lay freedom on the line. The essence of freedom, which is an inflexible respect (and responsibility) for oneself, is being bartered every day for such trifles... When freedom submits to a formula it rids itself of responsibility, the responsibility to one's own axioms. To check one's thought and behavior against the dictates of one's conscience may prove unflattering; to chart one's course by such a check-up requires a powerful will; it is to avoid such revelation and responsibility that people are prone to hide behind rituals, committees, flags and by-laws. But, flight from individual responsibility amounts to abandonment of freedom. You are not free when you refuse to make choices in your own name. You enslave yourself when you take refuge from the consequences of your decisions in an organization, a nation or any collective fiction."
It could be rightly said of this country for quite a while, "land of the free and home of the brave" we are not.
Come let us Reason. Peace is always a Choice.
