Salvation Backwards?

“Work out your own salvation. Do not depend on others” Buddha

It’s been gnawing on me for a long time now. I’ve been trying to understand just what 64 million Americans voted for when they elected Barack H. Obama as the 44th President of the United States. I wondered how can so many people be fooled at one time and quickly rejected that line of thought. To accept that would mean that 64 million people were “victims”. That would excuse them of accountability and responsibility.

In 2008, at Wesleyan University, then Senator Obama delivered the commencement speech to a group of adults that are now in the workforce and will potentially be the leaders of this country in business, politics, etc. I came across that speech today and re-read it entirely. There was one line which hit me like the bolt of lightning that struck down the Bishop in Caddyshack.

“Because our individual salvation depends on collective salvation” Barack H. Obama

Why did that jump out from all the other words in the speech? Because it’s backwards and it’s the underlying foundation of President Obama’s agenda. Think about it for a second. In order to have a collective, the individual must come first. The collective solely exists because of the individuals that make it up.

Did Senator Obama misspeak? I sincerely doubt it as we can look at his speeches, both during the campaign and his presidency, showing us just how keen he’s on the government (collective) being the answer for Americans (individual). His and the current Congress’ actions firmly validate it.

What the President and Congress want is power. The way to accomplish that is for everyone to believe that only government can be the collective salvation for ALL Americans. They want each individual to rely on the government to give them what they need, tell them what they should have, and ensure future generations are indoctrinated with the poison of dependency.

64 million Americans latched on to the false salvation cleverly disguised as Hope and Change. Was it because some of them were lazy and just didn’t want to apply critical thinking? You bet. Could it have been some of them were just fatigued by the war? Absolutely. Did some of them just get fed up with the ineptness and irresponsibility of our Congress, both Democrat and Republican? Sure. Was it that some of them do want bigger government and will gladly pay more in taxes so that they’ll be taken care of? Spot on.

Yet for all the 64 million Americans who voted for Obama, not one of the reasons listed above will make their individual lives better. Not now and not in the future. Indeed, it was not a case of victimization. It was flat out a lack of responsibility on their part. Dare I say a lack of responsibility on the part of all Americans.

What we all forgot was that each of us has the power and the potential to do for themselves what no other government of any flavor could do better. What is that? To thrive! Let me repeat – not just to survive but to thrive! The President and Congress are betting on the hope that Americans don’t ever remember this.

Our Founding Fathers remind us of this in the Declaration of Independence – “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by the Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”. It doesn’t say that all men have these “collective” rights. It says unalienable, whose definition is not to be separated, given away, or taken away.

So the next time you hear a member of Congress or President Obama start talking to you about how the government is going to help you out you might want to remember why they’re saying this. It’s because it’s a lot easier to take away the unalienable rights of a collective than it is from millions of individuals. It’s a lot easier to amass the power and control they’re ultimately seeking.

You might want to ask yourself other questions – Are you, as an individual, going to start taking responsibility for what was never the reponsibility of the government? Are you going to be responsible for thriving and not just surviving?

“There is no salvation in becoming adapted to a world which is crazy” Henry Miller

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This entry was posted by Fleckman on April 18, 2009 at 4:43 pm, and is filed under Politics. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.

http://twitter.com/teabagging Teabagging

You said it brother! Every man for himself!!
NDoubles

I agree with your article.

They could be called “Victims” of Ignorance. Exploited by Such Statements, because of their Laziness and Want to “Believe.” Maybe they were never taught the value of “thinking for yourself.” Maybe then they are not responsible for being gullible “sheep.”

This, Ultimately, makes “you,” a thinking person, a victim of the thoughtless masses.
A Quote:
“Democracy is a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance.” ~ H.L. Mencken

The only way that I see the statement working “Backwards” is that people gain their world views from society… Yet Society is made up of the people… A chicken & Egg kind of piece when talking where Salvation starts in this scenario.

The New TeaParty is at least some movement in thought, albeit I'm not sure if it is the correct move or enough thought.

“Thought has left the Country” … “Faith has Stepped in”
Left_of_the_Kennedys

Hahahahaha!!! Thanks for the message from one of the 22 percenters……
Get over it….
http://wallstcheatsheet.com Wall_St_Cheat_Sheet

Our government has taken more and more power away from the people since the Country was founded and we lost the original idea. Republicans and Democrats simply switch office and chip away at different areas. However, BOTH have been building government power for over 200 years. Just stop to think about the fact that almost every citizen believes the government has inherent powers (Cf. granted powers). Republicans stand under the flag and do whatever the Commander-in-Chief says (in fact, they even believed the last one had a special hotline to God). Democrats believe in an idealistic utopia that is currently not achievable by human beings in current form. When will we wake up and understand that extremism exists only in Plato's world of Ideals, not in Reality? Who knows? People seem to love following their riled up emotions and acting irrationally so long as they can point to a simple little package where they can say “This is THE Truth.” The masses are sheeple.

I have just started reading you based on a recommendation. IF you have been critical of all government pillaging no matter who is in office, then kudos to you. If you think the Tea Parties are anything more than a PR campaign by the Republican Party to get people emotional for the next Congressional election, then you are out of the loop. One of my best friends works there and has asked: “It's brilliant. Right?” It sure is. Just as brilliant as making Obama a savior figure …

I look forward to reading more.
http://www.flecksoflife.com Peter Fleckenstein

I love the quote from H.L. Mencken. I'm hoping the New Tea Party is the beginning of some “movement in thought” for all Americans.
http://www.flecksoflife.com Peter Fleckenstein

Your reply epitomizes my hope for what will happen in America. The realization that it's not just this party or that party. Both Democrats and Republicans in Congress are to blame IMHO.

I hope people that read your reply pick up on the brilliant point you made – That government doe NOT have inherent powers.

Thanks for the great reply. I'm hoping by posting my thoughts and ideas that you and others will continue to read more. I'm sure I'll be told if I'm accomplishing that.
non plumber joe

> Yet for all the 64 million Americans who voted for Obama, not one of the reasons listed above will make their individual lives better. Not now and not in the future. Indeed, it was not a case of victimization. It was flat out a lack of responsibility on their part. Dare I say a lack of responsibility on the part of all Americans.

That's a straw man because your reasons listed above ARE NOT necessarily why he was voted in by most people. Your whole argument falls on this poor connection. You need to show these reasons ARE the ones used my most, and wouldn't be for some other candidate to have a chance to establish your conclusion on the “collective mistake”. The quote you highlight simply suggests “we are all in this boat together, if it goes down we all do”. That's always true under any administration because we are interdependent. The context for such a statement is more important than the statement and Obama is NOT advocating people be passive, he is calling to action at every level.

What you CAN say without too much effort is that regardless of who is in power it is generally better for you to embody personal responsibility and NOT to give it up to anyone. Connecting it to Obama or this big bad evil government is irrelevant.
http://www.flecksoflife.com Peter Fleckenstein

Joe, I'd be curious as to why you think 64 million Americans voted for Obama.

I do differ with your statement about Obama's quote. When you state that the quote simply suggests “we are all in this boat together, if it goes down we all do.” I think that was Obama's purpose and intent to have a lot of people look at it that way. However, Obama was very clear in his quote. It was a statement and there was no suggestion or implications. He believed what he said and is now acting out what he said.

I go back to what I said – The collective solely exists because of the individuals that make it up. That cannot be disproven. Well, at least I haven't come across a disproof on that.

Great comments from you and I hope you'll reply. Thanks!
http://blog.flecksoflife.com Peter Fleckenstein

Joe, I'd be curious as to why you think 64 million Americans voted for Obama.

I do differ with your statement about Obama's quote. When you state that the quote simply suggests “we are all in this boat together, if it goes down we all do.” I think that was Obama's purpose and intent to have a lot of people look at it that way. However, Obama was very clear in his quote. It was a statement and there was no suggestion or implications. He believed what he said and is now acting out what he said.

I go back to what I said – The collective solely exists because of the individuals that make it up. That cannot be disproven. Well, at least I haven't come across a disproof on that.

Great comments from you and I hope you'll reply. Thanks!

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