Transcendence

Transcendence

It's something that most people miss.

But there are figures out there who don't change with institutional policy or at the behest of mob rule.

They are called individuals.

Free-thinkers.

These are the ones who don't stick a moistened finger into the air to test which way the wind blows before they think, say or do something.

That's because they form their opinions without consulting the figures in power. Their truth derives, as Ronald Reagan observednot from the leadership of men-but by adherence to those values that transcend men; values that spring from the fount of knowledge, a heightened sense of right and wrong, as well as spiritual depth… all of which make up the American psyche.

By example, a very famous individualistic lawyer was recently quoted as reporting that he was suffering ostracism by his community for airing his established thoughts which were in opposition to the accepted ones. He called it akin to wearing, quote: “A red badge of courage.”

But, at least, he has thoughts and he does not evolve or change his opinions by sticking his toe in the water to test the current or temperature before airing them.

Bravo for him!

I am reminded of so many in the past who were staunchly independent of mind: Theodore Roosevelt for instance.

Oh, some might say, he was so brash and hyper-American and didn't he start all that 'bully pulpit' stuff and exhort a 'speak softly but carry a big stick' policy toward diplomacy?

Yeah, he did.

He also set aside a record number of acres for our national parks and wrote commentaries, editorials and even histories when he once lost his fortune in the Dakota territory in 1886.

In the same manner, Mark Twain — a superlative literary genius —toured the world to pay back his debts after losing his own fortune, as well. (And who pays back their debts these days, when there is bankruptcy court?) Yet, these men rose from the ashes of their lives by the sheer strength of will, of mind and determination to fill the ranks of the notable in history.

Compare that to nowadays, when people are engaged in victimhood and in throwing accusations out there to see if one will stick to the wall. They think it is too difficult to hold their ground.

You hear them say things like, 'Oh, it's that other guy/gal's fault that I'm a failure. If they hadn't treated me bad, I would be on top of the world.' Or, 'If my circumstances had been just a little bit better.' Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera… Ad infinitum, ad nauseam. Yet there are some who will still stick to their guns. I find they are few, however.

It has been my experience to see that the norm is for folks to fold at the slightest sign of trouble, or resistance or testing. Which is why there is no lack of many out there, who will take advantage of the weakwilled and use their vacillation as an opportunity to bend them to their own will.

This is why we are witnessing the rise of political attacks these days. This new trend to terrorize others into changing their opinions by outright intimidation in the public square, finger-pointing, calling out, physical violence… and yes, even assassination, if anything else doesn't work. As the ballpark incident of last year proved when a leftist madman went on a shooting spree to take out some of our national politicians that he didn't like.

Have we come to this?

Well, one side of the political aisle certainly has.

And yes, I mean the left.

Basically now, if they you can't win the argument, then those on the left try instead to diminish the other side that presents the argument. That way you don't have to address the real issues.

That's the answer the left is putting out there.

They've come a long way in the Democrat Party… into avowed socialists, if one takes a minute to listen to the news lately. They are embracing complete subversion of individual rights by Big Government, confiscation of firearms, socialized medicine (which is working of s-o-o-o well in Canada and Great Britain where tens of thousands are dying by neglect and mismanagement every year), institutionalized abortion, and now abolishment of Ice-which means no barrier to alien murderers, rapists, drug runners, human traffickers and their ilk, as well as inviting hoards of illegal alien invaders to flood into our country, and allowing them unfettered access to our jobs, our paychecks, educational system, medical treatment, and the likerunning up an already huge national debt and depriving our own citizens of both advantage and their own pursuit of the American dream-while sending the tab for all this to the taxpayer.

Yet, we are supposed to believe this is in own best interest?

Huh?

And maybe, if you are not conversant with history, you might fall for their lies. But, I recall over 100 million people dying due to the Marxist policies of the communists and the socialists of the last century. That is, unless they've rewritten the history books since I last read about it. Could be… they are pulling down statues, revising the school books young people are reading, and calling truth 'hate speech' now.

Yet, I have a little streak of that transcendence thing myself.

Enough to know what works, what doesn't and the difference between the two. And I think the left's march toward totalitarianism and intimidation doesn't.

But, maybe that's just me.

Robert L. Hall is a resident of Marion and has a Bachelor’s Degree in music from the University of Memphis and a Master’s Degree from Florida State University. He is the pianist for Avondale Baptist Church and a writer of fiction on Amazon eBooks.

By Robert L. Hall