Sunday, May 10, 2015

The "R" Word

Revolution: The “R” Word:

"Revolution is not something fixed in ideology, nor is it something fashioned to a particular decade. It is a perpetual process embedded in the human spirit.” Abbie Hoffman

By John P. Smith
Freelance Writer

Revolution:  I can’t even write it, say it or think it without also seeing visions of fields littered with bodies, mass graves and civilization reduced to a smoking ruin.  It’s a powerful word.  A necessary word.


The Declaration of Independence of the United States says: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security."

Please go back and read ALL of that.  Most people stop after the pursuit of Happiness because they had to read this in school. Read it again; read it all. It’s important to understand precisely what is being said here:  Some 240 years ago, our founding fathers had exactly the same problems we’re seeing today.  Their government was out of control.

Of course, we don't govern our nation based on the Declaration. Our government is (supposed to be) based on the Constitution. There is no provision in the Constitution for the overthrow of government.  At the same time, the Constitution provides no guidance for martial law, either.  What it does say, however, is that just because it’s not written into the law, doesn’t mean it’s prohibited.  That’s kinda an out for both teams.

But the Declaration is precedence. Our government exists only because our forefathers overthrew the old one. And it clearly says it is our responsibility to do so again, if need be.  Does it have to be bloody?  No.  Will it be?  Probably.  Those who hold power will not willingly or easily let it go.  When will it happen?  I don’t know.  But I can feel it moving in my direction.

We can all feel it; some of us more that others.  It’s the overarching, omnipresent feeling of the other shoe about to drop.  The Sword of Damocles hangs by a thread over our heads.  Most folks simply won’t look up; refuse to acknowledge the Sword, sleeping under its ever-present danger without further thought. Others, those of us who are awake, see it there and scramble to find a way to get out from under it.  

If you’re reading this; you’re likely one of the awakened.  One of us who sees our police and law enforcement rampaging out of control. We see our government burying our fundamental rights under mountains of lies in the names of the triple terrors of Security, Equality and Climate.  (Oh, you have a problem with that?)  We see our banks and financial institutions imploding under the weight of their own greed.  We see the hopelessness of the 99-percent, drowning in debt, taxes and bureaucratic red tape, knowing that every time we come up for air we’ll have a government foot on our head shoving us right back under.  We see our so-called free press kissing the ass of the administration, repeating the lies of government and Wall Street so often and so fervently that they have actually come to believe them, too.

We have awakened from a blissfully ignorant slumber into this sociological, economic nightmare. For a long time, I believed I was alone in this feeling, understanding, knowledge of the rotten shape of our society, but then I discovered an entire subculture on the internet filled with people who believe as I do.  We’re called kooks, cranks, weirdos, conspiracy nuts, whackos, whatever adjective makes someone feel superior and unthreatened.  We’re also called Alternative Media, those of us who produce content.  My first response to hearing of Alternative Media was, “Alternative to what? Real media?” But that was wrong.  It’s alternative to mainstream media which, as noted above, is a tool of the ruling class and an instrument of control.  Through mainstream media, we are only told what we are supposed to hear; only shown what we are supposed to see.

Every day, more people wake up to these facts.  And every day that they do, our ranks grow and our influence spreads.  One day, I suspect soon, our government will be forced to take general action on Alternative Media. They will be forced to silence us, because we will be so loud we can no longer be ignored, ridiculed and laughed away.  They’ll start picking us off one by one.  That’s working for now.  Frighteningly, no one is surprised that this is happening.  Eventually, they will be forced to shut us down entirely.  Or at least make the attempt.

Companies such as Google, Apple and Microsoft already bow to the pressure of the government and when cornered, they will shut down our sites, our feeds and our channels but really hate to because it costs them money.  They’ve already let the government have censorship rights over content.  The powers that be truly hate the freedom of information we have on the internet.  Oh, they love the internet -- as long as they have control of the content.  For instance, the government, and even organized religion, aren’t really interested in shutting down porn sites.  Why?  Because someone looking at porn isn’t reading what I’m writing.  At the first available opportunity, they will shut us down. Maybe it will be an Anonymous cyber attack on government computers.  Or hackers derailing stock exchange servers.   If an opportunity doesn’t present itself fast enough, a catastrophic event will be fabricated to give government the justification it needs to turn us off.   (We do see this kind of thing with frightening regularity: 9/11.)

There are problems, though.  The government and business, corporations and cartels, are tied in, and tied up, with the internet.  They can’t just take it all down, or profits suffer.  Not even part of it can be taken offline because of the way it’s built with multiple redundant backups for name servers and data pathways.

So we have that going for us.  Also, we have guns.  Don’t think for a minute that if millions of citizens were suddenly denied internet access that those people would not take to the streets.  (Take a man’s access to free porn and cheap booze and he will fight.)  Our adversary knows that most of us who watch and participate in alternative media support our Second Amendment right to bear arms.  We will not go quietly.  (See my article: When They Come for My Guns)

Which brings up an interesting scenario:  The enemy of my enemy is not necessarily my friend. What if someone (Anonymous?) took us off the net and pointed blame at the government?  I know I’d never believe for a minute that it wasn’t the government trying to shut us up.  That’s the part that gives this scenario its power.  Because if that happened, I’d head, by myself or with others, toward the perceived source of the problem.  That’s one way a revolution could start.  Really, here, I’m just thinking out loud.  So far, I’ve thought the Bundy Ranch, Ferguson and Baltimore all were the lighted fuse that was going to set off the powder keg.  So far, not.  But, I see it as inevitable.

As I begin my closing, here, let me say this:  Yes, I’m angry that evil men have brought us to this point.

It is ok to be angry.  We have a right to be angry.  At the same time, we have a responsibility to be ready. Right now, we carry on with daily life, but we must quietly, efficiently and diligently prepare. During the Feast of Passover, the bible tells us to be ready to go, with sandals on our feet, robe tucked into our belt and staff in our hand. There’s also a saying, “They also serve who stand and wait.”

Are you ready? If you're not sure where to start getting ready, start here:  http://www.shtfplan.com/ The net is teeming with advice and people selling products based on your fear of war with the government or the fall of civilization. Research what you need, do your own tests and don't believe everything you read.

While making your preparations, consider how to get others to see the truth.  A cause needs converts. I believe I wrote this in a previous article and I think it’s pertinent enough to repeat here: A revolution isn’t called a revolution unless it is successful; until that time, it is called an insurrection and will be put down by whatever means is necessary. We must be prepared to deal with the reality that we are going to be at war and we must be ready to support our chosen cause.

I started this piece with a quote by Abbie Hoffman, it seems fitting to let him walk us out.

"Smoking dope and hanging up Che's picture is no more a commitment than drinking milk and collecting postage stamps.” Abbie Hoffman