A Few Thoughts

Taking a little time out to address a few things that have been on my mind.  

On Cynicism and Criticism    

I find myself as a frequent critic of things that go on in the town where I was raised. Although proud of where I grew up, my attitude is one of cynicism, and not necessarily being proud of the current “state of the town”.

Some people might question why I’m so critical. Perhaps they think that since I don’t live in Fairfield any longer, I should mind my own business. To them, I say it is better to stand up for what I believe to be right, than to allow what I know to be wrong.

It's much more preferable to challenge ignorance than to let it spread in an unabated fashion; it is better to seek the truth than to allow the existence of a lie.

It has been said that there are two roads that you can go by; you can either be part of a problem, or part of the solution to that problem. I choose to take the latter road; "starve the beast", don't "feed the beast"! (1)

On Freedoms, and Mixed Messages

In today's society, we are endlessly told that the safety of others is of the utmost importance. The powers that be say that in order to secure this safety, each of us needs to sacrifice some of our own freedoms; "God, they're great at that stuff" (2).

It seems that we have forgotten the wise words of Benjamin Franklin; "those who would give up essential liberties for a little temporary safety deserve neither".

For a moment, I will paraphrase a quote from actor Carroll O'Connor's "Archie Bunker"; I bet you won't find Joe Biden giving up any of his essential liberties.  

"If (he) did, (his) secretaries would get up and go home"      

Anywho, I move on to another matter of consideration.  

These days, we see an awful lot of "virtue signaling", and the sending of mixed signals regarding fact and fiction.  It's not only those messages going out to society as a whole, but specifically to our children which are worrying.  Let's look at some of these. 

We are increasingly told that:     

• Americans are racists and bigots by nature, and that our country is not exceptional in any way.

• Some people are superior to others; this superiority is solely because of the color of their skin (see note).  

• We should celebrate what makes us unique; yet we must apologize for who we are.  

• There is no truth other than that which the government and media tells you is the truth.  If you dare disagree, you are a lowlife/racist/bigot/idiot/danger to society.  

• There is no such thing as a "natural right", such as free speech and free press rights.  There are only those rights which the government sees fit to grant unto us.  

• The rights that we claim to have are not worth protecting, nor are they worth fighting/dying for.  Our best option is simply to surrender them without a fight.  

• And we're told that violence and killing are sometimes justified; that is, as long as acts of such are committed in order to get one's own way, or to shut down the speech of others.  

This isn't common sense, freedom, or the American way.  Rather, it is stupidity, hypocrisy, and the teaching of tyranny.  Be a slave from the cradle to the grave! That's all it really is.  

During my time attending the former Fairfield High School, there used to be (and presumably still is) a notable mural near the school's auditorium.  The mural read, "and this above all, to thine own self be true" (3).  

I wonder whatever happened to this idea?        

Note: Apparently, this is consistent with the thinking of a top employee within the Fairfield Public Schools (Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Digna Marte) (4).  

Sources:

1. “Jason Lewis Quits Live On Air 7–31-14.” YouTube, uploaded by Ryan Quinlan, 31 July 2014, www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldswWSU21-U&feature=youtu.be. Accessed 7 August 2022.

2. O'Connor, Carroll, as "Archie Bunker".  All In The Family, created by Norman Lear. Tandem Productions/Sony Pictures Entertainment, 1971-1979. 

3. Line spoken by Polonius in Act 1, Scene 3 of "Hamlet". Writer: William Shakespeare.

4. The National Desk, and Alec Schemmel. “Diversity Czar for Connecticut School District Slammed for Retweets Attacking White People.” WRGB, 4 Aug. 2022, cbs6albany.com/news/nation-world/diversity-czar-for-connecticut-school-district-slammed-for-retweets-attacking-white-people. Accessed 7 August 2022.