I'm reading Rich Dad's Prophecy right now, from the Rich Dad, Poor Dad book series-honestly the best financial management and advice source I've ever come across. But what inspired me to write this entry is not the financial advise (buy the book for that), but a bit of wisdom that Robert T. Kiyosaki's "rich dad" shared with him back in 1979- way before 9/11, and Bush, and the whole current political mess. On page 46, Rich Dad says "We are no longer the same people we were when the Boston Tea Party took place. As a people, we no longer fight for freedom... instead we are a people who fight desperately for security." and "Just look at the people who have the most security. They're called prison inmates. They have a house, food, free time, an exercise yard... they have maximum security, but they have no freedom."
Although this discussion was reguarding financial security versus financial freedom, the arguement that the two are exact opposites is especially valid now politically. Ever since "9/11", the people- particularly the older generations of this country have been screaming for more security while bragging that this is the "land of the free". We've used freedom as the supposed reason to invade another country and start a war- one that looks sadly similar to Vietnam. Instead of doing all we can to ensure our national and individual freedom, we have become lemmings, blindly following along in the name of group security, even as we are walking off a cliff. We pay token lip service to respecting our elders, when often they no longer deserve that respect. We rabidly attack anything that we percieve threatens that sense of security- women's reproductive rights, gay and lesbian rights, progress in general. We attack out of fear that we will no longer have that security.
We are prisoners of ourselves.
I would rather take risks and fall flat than live in mediocrity. I would rather use my intelligence and be cautious than be told I cannot do something because it might not be safe.
I would rather have freedom than be a prisoner.
Posted by Jenn at February 16, 2006 12:14 AM