Dear VCC Community, This week I asked the question – “What have you learned over the last three years?” The answers were much as one would expect, and yet, to hear them spoken out loud was rather disconcerting. The answers included: how much we are being lied to by our governments, public health and media; how easily people can be manipulated and deceived; how many people will go along with tyranny if it doesn’t affect them and their family; and the lack of accountability at all levels. Most disconcerting was that we
don’t actually live in a lawful society, or have a Charter of Rights and Freedoms that protects us from government overreach. What has become apparent is that the legal and moral foundation that we thought existed and stood as the basis of our advanced western civilization is an illusion. The massive erosion of fundamentals was on full display during the US Subcommittee Hearings intended to examine the US government’s role in censoring Americans. More than one hundred Democrat leaders actively lobbied to censor the testimony of Robert Kennedy Jr. One would have thought that the topic of ‘freedom of speech’ would have universal support in a free and liberal society, but apparently no longer. The shining
light in all of this is the clarity, firmness, determination and respectful discourse of Kennedy in responding to those who opposed his right to speak. He didn’t engage in counter attack but rather elevated the conversation to a higher level. He said: “Debate, congenial, respectful debate is the fertilizer, it’s the water, it’s the sunlight for our democracy. We need to be talking to each other.” It appears we need to lose what we value so that we can once again learn why rights and freedoms are important. What is clear is that we’ve taken our rights and freedoms for granted and now are paying the price of our naivety, comfort and blind faith in the goodness of our institutions and those leading them. These are
the growing pains of maturing. While many will be harmed in this journey, I trust that we will become wiser and stronger as a result of the adversity. Ted |