Renaissance not Revolution

Eric Wilson - 2014


Sadly, we have people from both ends of the political spectrum converging now to “storm the Bastille” from different sides.  On one side, we have progressives in favor social reengineering and redistribution while the other side is the “establishment” who promote global empires and are the corporate welfare system.  No matter which side you think is here to “save you,” the truth is they are both here to destroy the foundation of our nation, and government will get bigger and more powerful as a result.

 Among the crowds are anarchists and useful idiots that are crying for a revolution.  They are clearly against something but have no clear vision of what they are for – and even less clarity on ideas or virtues.  The time for the action they so desire is now, but we do not need a revolution…we need a renaissance.

 After decades of attempting to change things from the top down, we must now realize that the answer is not a revolution but a renaissance.  We require a renaissance of people and ideas, not one of systems or policies.  Any revolution without a guiding “compass” – a foundation of morals and ideas – ultimately becomes all about power.  It creates the followers and useful idiots demanding the immediate overthrow of a system.  By contrast, a renaissance is based on personal responsibility and personal enlightenment.  It empowers leaders that will transcend to the eventual changing of a system.

 The grassroots movement across the country has already been called “resentful, angry, and delusional.”  I would add passionate, spontaneous, and empowering – but sadly not spiritual or reasoned.  As they join those on the far right and cry for the heads of the queen and leaders of the systems, history tells us their end will throw them into the arms of tyranny to save them from the destruction they created.  This is not taking away from our collective actions, but – if we have not learned from past history – we will learn from our own history.  Without a foundation and revolution of principles and ideas, we shall become no more than the mob we resent.

 We agree that the current system is broken and we – as a nation – are on the wrong path.  We have drifted far from the nation of people driven by intellect, sacrifice, and public virtue that characterized this country at the time of its founding.  We no longer understand – or even concern ourselves with – what it means to be a self-governing leader.  As individuals, we have lost our sense of deep obligation to our marriages, our families, our communities, and even to ourselves.  We have forsaken our responsibilities to not only empower others, but to strive for empowerment personally as well. 

 There is a clear and urgent need for a renaissance among us.  It is our responsibility to restore self, family, and community.  Leaders in marriages, leaders in families, leaders in businesses and churches, leaders in communities, as well as state-level and national leaders, but first of all – leaders of self in personal life.

 “The ancients who wished to illustrate the highest virtue throughout the empire first ordered well their own states. Wishing to order well their own states, they first regulated their own families. Wishing to regulate their families, they first cultivated their own selves. Wishing to cultivate their own selves, they rectified their hearts.  Wishing to rectify their hearts, they first sought to be sincere in their thoughts. Wishing to be sincere in their thoughts, they first extended to the utmost, their knowledge. Such extension of knowledge lay in the investigation of things.” – Confucius 500BC

 We are at a great crossroads that may determine the future of our nation and the liberties of the next generation.  We need a renaissance based on ideas and enlightenment to keep the flame of liberty burning.  The time is now, and it is your duty and ours to empower new leaders and founders – and once again be a nation of people driven by intellect, sacrifice, and public virtue.