Charlie Chaplan wrote and spoke these words many, many years ago as part of "The Great Dictator (1940)." I would recommend watching the movie, for the sake of this man's contribution to comics and film, but mostly for the passionate speech he gives.
______________________________________
"I'm sorry but I don't want to be
an emperor. That's not my business. I don't want to rule or conquer
anyone. I should like to help everyone if possible; Jew, Gentile, black
men, white. We all want to help one another. Human beings are like
that. We want to live by each others' happiness, not by each other's
misery. We don't want to hate and despise one another. In this world
there is room for everyone. And the good earth is rich and can provide
for everyone. The way of life can be free and beautiful, but we have
lost the way.
"Greed has poisoned men's souls; has barricaded the world with hate; has
goose-stepped us into misery and bloodshed. We have developed speed,
but we have shut ourselves in. Machinery that gives abundance has left
us in want. Our knowledge as made us cynical; our cleverness, hard and
unkind. We think too much and feel too little. More than machinery we
need humanity. More than cleverness, we need kindness and gentleness.
Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost. The
aeroplane and the radio have brought us closer together. The very
nature of these inventions cries out for the goodness in man; cries out
for universal brotherhood; for the unity of us all.
"Even now my voice is reaching millions throughout the world, millions
of despairing men, women, and little children, victims of a system that
makes men torture and imprison innocent people. To those who can hear
me, I say "Do not despair!" The misery that is now upon us is but the
passing of greed, the bitterness of men who fear the way of human
progress. The hate of men will pass, and dictators die, and the power
they took from the people will return to the people. And so long as men
die, liberty will never perish.
"Soldiers! Don't give yourselves to brutes, men who despise you and
enslave you; who regiment your lives, tell you what to do, what to
think and what to feel! Who drill you, diet you, treat you like cattle,
use you as cannon fodder! Don't give yourselves to these unnatural
men---machine men with machine minds and machine hearts! You are not
machines! You are not cattle! You are men! You have a love of humanity
in your hearts! You don't hate! Only the unloved hate; the unloved and
the unnatural.
"Soldiers! Don't fight for slavery! Fight for liberty! In the
seventeenth chapter of St. Luke, it’s written “the kingdom of God is
within man”, not one man nor a group of men, but in all men! In you!
You, the people, have the power, the power to create machines, the
power to create happiness! You, the people, have the power to make this
life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure. Then
in the name of democracy, let us use that power.
"Let us all unite. Let us fight for a new world, a decent world that
will give men a chance to work, that will give youth a future and old
age a security. By the promise of these things, brutes have risen to
power. But they lie! They do not fulfill their promise. They never
will! Dictators free themselves but they enslave the people! Now let us
fight to fulfill that promise! Let us fight to free the world! To do
away with national barriers! To do away with greed, with hate and
intolerance! Let us fight for a world of reason, a world where science
and progress will lead to all men’s happiness.
"Soldiers, in the name of democracy, let us all unite!"
Showing posts with label peace. Show all posts
Showing posts with label peace. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Friday, November 11, 2011
i beg of thee!
"...it is their right, it is their duty ..."
From a multitude of sources and leanings, the 'Occupy' movement is being covered, and scrutinized. Only a couple months in to the movement, it has gone from a relatively small group of disenchanted occupying New York to hundreds of cities around the globe. Amazingly, no recognized leadership is being claimed by the occupiers, as if they're waiting on the leadership to come to them. Well, maybe that's the point.
Even before the occupy movement started, recent years have seen an increase in civil uprisings against their respective leaders. Movements declaring "we're tired of your shit!" The occupiers in this more recent movement are basically saying the same thing. They are also proving to everyone that they do not individually have to agree on everything, but they all agree on one thing: the system has been corrupted by profit and power. It's difficult to argue that.
Watching or reading the coverage by multiple news media, we are bombarded with phrases of police brutality, vandalism, prolific drug use, rape, incoherent statements, mis-education ...to the point that the overall message is being stifled. This is much more than just a faction rising. This is not a liberal or conservative propaganda machine, nor is it just a bunch of hippies and sympathizers. This is a movement by the people against the corrupt, despotic state of bought leadership who have shown little or no concern for the well-being of its citizens.
Although i personally prefer a more civil and formal approach to addressing grievances, it is difficult to find blame in much of the behavior of the occupiers. Many feel there is little option left and time has passed to regard civilities. They have been pushed in to corners and see no point in regarding formalities to address the grievances anymore. We will listen or they will get louder. They have forgone respect for process because processes can be bought. They have lost respect for elected offices because they also can be bought. Even when groups have tried to be civil and do things 'by the book,' they have been 'allowed' to protest in the corner, removed from public. Riot police are called in to 'keep the peace' at a peaceful assembly, then videos and testimony show law enforcement beating protesters. The reason the occupiers are not listening to your ordinances and warnings is because you haven't listened to them. They are trying to tell you that "of ...by ...for the people" has been replaced by "show me the money." Do you really expect them to respect you? I, for one (of the 99) do not respect you, and i will without hesitance throw my voice in with the occupiers and, we will not stop occupying until you get the point.
This movement gives me a more ensured hope that my faith in humanity is not a lost cause. To see such a wide demographic in solidarity is inspiring. The voice is empowering, knowing that "We the people" still has power. I proudly stand with my brothers and sisters declaring in protest the injustices of greed in power.
With that said, i must also say this: it pains me that there are some in this movement giving credence to the claims by some that this has turned into mobs of lawlessness. If we are going to stand in accord fighting injustice then we must be that example of behavior we desire to see from them. Violence ...vandalism ...rape -- there is NO excuse for these activities, and i beg of everyone to do their part in ensuring these things are not part of your occupation. To those who are the offenders, GET OUT! i have no qualms with the cops nabbing your ass. Your actions are a disgrace to the movement. Also, we cannot be a hindrance to the rest of the population (the rest of the 99%), for they too are trying to ensure their security and stability.
i would beg of everyone to please educate yourselves on all these issues that we have individually. Work with or form solution groups in your areas to not only tell the 'powers that be' that there is a grievance, but how we can make the changes that will "...form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity ..." It is time to show them we are more than a bunch of factional deviants. We are Americans, and we vote.
We are 99%
From a multitude of sources and leanings, the 'Occupy' movement is being covered, and scrutinized. Only a couple months in to the movement, it has gone from a relatively small group of disenchanted occupying New York to hundreds of cities around the globe. Amazingly, no recognized leadership is being claimed by the occupiers, as if they're waiting on the leadership to come to them. Well, maybe that's the point.
Even before the occupy movement started, recent years have seen an increase in civil uprisings against their respective leaders. Movements declaring "we're tired of your shit!" The occupiers in this more recent movement are basically saying the same thing. They are also proving to everyone that they do not individually have to agree on everything, but they all agree on one thing: the system has been corrupted by profit and power. It's difficult to argue that.
Watching or reading the coverage by multiple news media, we are bombarded with phrases of police brutality, vandalism, prolific drug use, rape, incoherent statements, mis-education ...to the point that the overall message is being stifled. This is much more than just a faction rising. This is not a liberal or conservative propaganda machine, nor is it just a bunch of hippies and sympathizers. This is a movement by the people against the corrupt, despotic state of bought leadership who have shown little or no concern for the well-being of its citizens.
To them:
Although i personally prefer a more civil and formal approach to addressing grievances, it is difficult to find blame in much of the behavior of the occupiers. Many feel there is little option left and time has passed to regard civilities. They have been pushed in to corners and see no point in regarding formalities to address the grievances anymore. We will listen or they will get louder. They have forgone respect for process because processes can be bought. They have lost respect for elected offices because they also can be bought. Even when groups have tried to be civil and do things 'by the book,' they have been 'allowed' to protest in the corner, removed from public. Riot police are called in to 'keep the peace' at a peaceful assembly, then videos and testimony show law enforcement beating protesters. The reason the occupiers are not listening to your ordinances and warnings is because you haven't listened to them. They are trying to tell you that "of ...by ...for the people" has been replaced by "show me the money." Do you really expect them to respect you? I, for one (of the 99) do not respect you, and i will without hesitance throw my voice in with the occupiers and, we will not stop occupying until you get the point.
To us:
This movement gives me a more ensured hope that my faith in humanity is not a lost cause. To see such a wide demographic in solidarity is inspiring. The voice is empowering, knowing that "We the people" still has power. I proudly stand with my brothers and sisters declaring in protest the injustices of greed in power.
With that said, i must also say this: it pains me that there are some in this movement giving credence to the claims by some that this has turned into mobs of lawlessness. If we are going to stand in accord fighting injustice then we must be that example of behavior we desire to see from them. Violence ...vandalism ...rape -- there is NO excuse for these activities, and i beg of everyone to do their part in ensuring these things are not part of your occupation. To those who are the offenders, GET OUT! i have no qualms with the cops nabbing your ass. Your actions are a disgrace to the movement. Also, we cannot be a hindrance to the rest of the population (the rest of the 99%), for they too are trying to ensure their security and stability.
i would beg of everyone to please educate yourselves on all these issues that we have individually. Work with or form solution groups in your areas to not only tell the 'powers that be' that there is a grievance, but how we can make the changes that will "...form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity ..." It is time to show them we are more than a bunch of factional deviants. We are Americans, and we vote.
We are 99%
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Independence Day
Went downtown last night to celebrate the Fourth of July, Independence Day fireworks show with friends, and although I must say I had a great time, I couldn't help but wonder ...
Just like how Christmas is 'supposed' to be the celebration of the birth of the Christian Messiah (although its not at all what he wanted), Independence Day is the celebration of our independence from the foreign soils ...declaration that we can and WILL govern ourselves. Yet, it seems to me, the Fourth of July is more today about a show and a party, commercialized like Christmas has been. Has the American populous lost touch with or forgotten what it means to be an independent people celebrating freedom?
As I stood (with a beer in my hand) watching the fireworks display, I could feel in my heart a pride welling up. Proud to be an American. Proud to make the choices that remind me 'I'm free.' The fireworks are supposed to be a display of the battles fought to gain independence ...yet as I look around on the streets, behind me at the bar, and watch commercials on television, I feel a disconnection. What is this holiday now? A day off from work (for some); an excuse to party; a commercial convincing us to buy?
Don't get me wrong. I do enjoy the show, and hanging with my friends, but I can't help but wonder, "where is the pride? What are we doing here?"
Today's global scene is anything but order. The citizens of every nation have lost sight of what it means to be a part of the human race. The only race, it seems to me, is to be the first with and last without. Selfish 'anti-them' attitudes are prevailing over the cause of humanity ...and it scares me.
Not to borrow a pageant cliche, but where is world peace? Is it my neighbor's job to keep, or mine? Are we approaching an impasse where all things fail? Or, can we push a reset button somewhere and get back on track?
Just some thoughts. I'm probably wrong. Guess we'll see in a few short years. Oh, and by that, how does one prepare?
Just like how Christmas is 'supposed' to be the celebration of the birth of the Christian Messiah (although its not at all what he wanted), Independence Day is the celebration of our independence from the foreign soils ...declaration that we can and WILL govern ourselves. Yet, it seems to me, the Fourth of July is more today about a show and a party, commercialized like Christmas has been. Has the American populous lost touch with or forgotten what it means to be an independent people celebrating freedom?
As I stood (with a beer in my hand) watching the fireworks display, I could feel in my heart a pride welling up. Proud to be an American. Proud to make the choices that remind me 'I'm free.' The fireworks are supposed to be a display of the battles fought to gain independence ...yet as I look around on the streets, behind me at the bar, and watch commercials on television, I feel a disconnection. What is this holiday now? A day off from work (for some); an excuse to party; a commercial convincing us to buy?
Don't get me wrong. I do enjoy the show, and hanging with my friends, but I can't help but wonder, "where is the pride? What are we doing here?"
Today's global scene is anything but order. The citizens of every nation have lost sight of what it means to be a part of the human race. The only race, it seems to me, is to be the first with and last without. Selfish 'anti-them' attitudes are prevailing over the cause of humanity ...and it scares me.
Not to borrow a pageant cliche, but where is world peace? Is it my neighbor's job to keep, or mine? Are we approaching an impasse where all things fail? Or, can we push a reset button somewhere and get back on track?
Just some thoughts. I'm probably wrong. Guess we'll see in a few short years. Oh, and by that, how does one prepare?
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