Freedom is Earned and Given
New Earth, Part 3
Here’s a story to set the stage for today’s post on The Tolton Path:
(Read the entire New Earth series)
It was a short flight to the Welcome Station. Shuttles formed a line, floating in perfect unison with one another until a docking bay was available. Tao sat, looking out the window, holding his drink. He frowned with every sip.
“It tastes better cold,” a man approaches. His boots slam against the floor as he drops in the seat next to Tao. “You don’t like ice cubes, Tao?” He swirls the liquid in the cup and the ice clinks against the glass.
Tao looked at the man. “I had no such luxuries growing up.” Turning back to the window he says, “No reason to start now.” Their shuttle began to thrust forward when a docking bay opened up.
Tao stood up and asked, “How did you know my name?” Before the man could answer, Tao began walking.
“Let me guess,” the man said following Tao into the open area of the shuttle. “Communist?” Tao ignored him. “Well, you don’t look like a Monarchy type. Look at those shoes.” He points to Tao’s feet, which were wearing simple flat slip on shoes.
Tao pointed at the man’s feet and looked up at him. “And what do your boots say about you?”
“Well, these boots will take me anywhere I want to go. These here are freedom boots!” He smiled at Tao and put his hand out. “Rex Reed, Republic delegation.” He leans forward and whispers, “At least that’s what I’m saying. You never know!” He lets out a large laugh and slaps Tao on his back.
Tao crouched down and in one sweeping motion, had the cowboy falling back into his arms. With Reed balanced on his leg, Tao shifts the man’s glass to catch each ice cube back in his drink. He shakes his head at the Eagle etched on Reed’s boots. Leaning forward, Tao whispers to Reed, “Be careful here. You never know.”
The crowd that gathered looked on as Tao walked towards the shuttle exit with Reed running to catch up. “Hey, what was that back there? We’re all here to start a better planet. This New Earth is a second chance for humanity, for real freedom. We’re here to work through our differences to get there.”
They stop at the shuttle door with a blinking red light. The blue, green and white colors of New Earth take up the entire window next to them. “You overestimate people’s willingness to share,” Tao said. “If you think that planet has anything more than a 1% chance of being free, you must be from another solar system.”
Tao and Reed stared in awe at the beautiful planet. It was a miracle find that happened nearly ten years ago. Humanity worked together so diligently to find a way to travel here and to live in harmony. Colonization went smoothly. Miraculous materials not present on Earth were found. New metals allowed new realities in crafts, robotics and construction to take place. Free energy was within reach. Discoveries of new species and plants led to new treatments and cures almost every day.
Because of all the energy and new materials, AI Duplicates were more easily developed on New Earth. AI algorithms capabilities increased exponentially and at a fraction of the cost. The military minds began to visit New Earth and decided that a government was needed to manage this amazing new planet.
The blinking red light turned solid green. Tao, Reed and the rest of the passengers entered the Welcoming Station, joining the hundreds of others from the delegation already there.
–End story (for now)–
(Read the entire New Earth series)
Freedom is Earned and Given
Freedom was given to United States citizens by its founders who recognized natural law theory in which every person has inherent rights not granted to them by any other person or government, but rather, God. This gift stripped away Britain’s authority over the colonies and made each founder a wanted criminal. From that point forward the citizenry fought to break free from the grips of English tyranny. A path for freedom was laid out by our founders, but it had to be won. And it was.
Freedom was given, but it had to be earned.
Since then, each generation benefited from the sweat and bravery of the prior to maintain its freedom. From wars with other nations and injustices that had remained since our founding, namely, the largest scar of our nation, slavery, where a million of our citizens died.
Through all the internal strife and wars, freedom still passed from generation to generation. Yes, freedom was given, but it was continuously fought for and earned by every generation.
The United States citizens of today in 2024 are (approximately) its 7th generation. We are the recipients and holders of this freedom. But, with all the technological controls available and laws and regulations passed, what freedom remains?
Are you free when the bill of rights is chipped away and bent to conform to the desires of one party or the other at the imprisonment or fining of its citizens and political opposition?
Are you free when the government insists on growing its power to protect us from intangible dangers, not just from our enemies, but from other citizens or businesses?
Are you free when the city and state seeks to maintain their control over you rather than allowing you to flourish on your own accord from a quality education?
Are you free when city, state and federal governments promote the benefits of entrepreneurship for its citizens but discourage it with their actions against free market capitalism?
Are you free when laws and regulations are continuously passed detailing what you may buy or sell?
Are you free when the government and politicians provide money, pass laws and regulations to aid foreign nations and corporations instead of its citizens?
Are you free when citizens and the government are listening and watching, gathering information to be used against you?
Are you free when our debt is 35 trillion dollars and growing another trillion every hundred days?
All of the above has happened over the past hundred years. A slow, persistent march by the governing bodies and promoted by the press has allowed it to do so. The cancellation of our freedom is accelerating no matter who is running our government. We must stay vigilant and act with the importance that freedom requires to take it back, maintain it and stop giving it away in pieces.
On this Independence Day weekend, let us remember the hardships that prior generations have gone through so that we remain a free nation. Take heart in their sacrifices, look in the mirror and find someone deserving of the glorious freedom that you still enjoy. For freedom is a gift that must be continuously earned otherwise it will disappear.
Peace.