[updated from a Price of Freedom from several years ago]
The first section of T.H. White’s book ‘The Once and Future King’ became the basis for the Disney movie ‘The Sword in the Stone’. In T.H. White’s retelling of the Arthurian legend Merlin changes the young Arthur (“Wart”) into various creatures to teach him life lessons.
During one of Wart’s episodes he is changed into an ant, and as he enters the ant colony he sees a sign that reads: “EVERYTHING NOT FORBIDDEN IS COMPULSORY”. Even as a young child when I read that I felt a chill run through me…and now as an adult I feel that same chill.
When I read the book in the early 60’s there were layers upon layers of American history, culture, traditions and laws that insulated me and America from this “everything not forbidden is compulsory” philosophy ever becoming the standard for our life. Sure, the USSR, Red China, North Korea, et al, were all suffering under such a decree…but America?? NEVER!
Well, “never” turned out to be pretty short-lived. Who knew? Those layers-upon-layers of protection have been stripped away, and now a puppet is about to be installed in the basement of the White House, and his puppet-masters will move quickly to dictate every aspect of our lives.
Biden’s puppet-masters will make sure we know that T.H. White’s phrase works in both directions:
“Everything not FORBIDDEN is COMPULSORY”
-and-
“Everything not COMPULSORY is FORBIDDEN”
For our own good…of course. And if you DARE to question ANY proclamation by the Biden Regime, you will be labeled a “Domestic Terrorist”.
Almost every media outlet has been hosting panels of “experts” PRAISING what Twitter, Facebook and the rest of BigTech are doing to censor voices and the news. These “experts” routinely declare that we Americans have “too many choices” for where we get our news and other information. They also routinely support government oversight of “news”…to fight against “disinformation”, of course. For our own good.
If we will all just COMPLY with the new regime, TRUST them to “screen” our news, OBEY their orders limiting our choices (food, fuel, etc), and DISARM ourselves, then America can become the “paradise” the Left has screeched yearned for.
But wait, there already IS such a “paradise”!!
- There everything not forbidden is compulsory…and vice versa.
- Everything is recycled
- Virtually ZERO use of fossil-fuels
- NO squabbling or disagreeing
- NO nighttime “light pollution” (perfect for star-gazers!)
- Near 100% reliance on public-transit, and public housing
- Full Government “oversight” of all news and information
Where, you ask, is this paradise? North Korea!! Yes, comrades, and all this awesomeness is coming here starting tomorrow!
Freedom to speak (and disagree), make choices (even bad ones), and be self-reliant, is often messy…and hard. But every time a choice is taken from you, whether by force or by a “nudge”, your freedom is diminished that much more. Every time you withhold your opinion lest you be perceived as “un-civil” you’ve surrendered a portion of your freedom. Every time something it taken from you for the “common good”, your freedom is eroded that much more.
You do not have the luxury of simply living your life and minding your own business any more, for the armies of those intent on minding your business FOR you are growing every day.
Tyranny is neat, clean and sterile…“bad” choices are not possible! We Americans, on the other hand, have always insisted on making on our own choices, and living with the consequences of those choices…even the bad ones. That’s a price we’ve always been willing to pay. I pray we’re still willing to pay it, for it’s the Price of Freedom