O ye that love mankind! Ye that dare oppose not only the tyranny but the tyrant, stand forth!

some thoughts of my study of Common Sense, by Thomas Paine:

so a little background. common sense is Thomas' cries to the lovers of mankind to see the importance of independence from the monarchy of england. and i quote,

"Men of passive tempers look somewhat lightly over the offenses of Great Britain and, still hoping for the best, are apt to call out, 'Come, come, we shall be friends again for all this.' But examine the passions and feelings of mankind, bring the doctrine of reconciliation to the touchstone of nature, and then tell me whether you can hereafter love, honor, and faithfully serve the power that has carried fire and sword into your land? if you cannot do all these, then are you only deceiving yourselves, and by your daily bringing ruin upon posterity. Your future connection with britain, whom you can neither love nor honor, will be forced and unnatural, and being formed only on the plan of present convenience will, in a little time, fall into a relapse more wretched than the first. But if you say you still can pass the violations over, then i ask, has your house been burned? has your property been destroyed before your face? are your wife and children destitute of a bed to lie on or bread to live on? Have you lost a parent or a child by their hands, and yourself the ruined and wretched survivor? If you have not, then are you not a judge of those who have. But if you have and can still shake hands with the murderers, then are you unworthy the name of husband, father, friend, or lover; and whatever may be your rank or title in life, you have the heart of a coward and the spirit of a sycophant."

its long yes, but i hope you read it.   my thoughts:

though we arent in battle over independence from a mother country... we are in battle.

(people have different passions: this is in perspective to mine)

Big Tobacco has affected all of us. whether it be a loved one in the family, or a child of God that passes us on the streets or in the grocery store isle. millions of people die a year. do we continue to say to those industries through our passive, comfortable lifestyles, "come, come, we shall be friends again for all this." Elie Wiesel said, "we must take sides. neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented."

the youth are being targeted, and everyone is suffering the consequences. we can be active in the battle to preserve the health and lives of those around us, or we can be like mentioned by Paine: we can pass the violations over, with no thought of what has happened, and shake hands with the murderers by closing our eyes to the issue, then we are unworthy the name of husband, father, friend, lover (and i add saint). you have the heart of a coward...

another book i read recently teaches how we should escape the rutt of "what people do" to move to a higher plane or understanding of what we are really capable of. and then becoming it. at the end, the main character discovers that the love that raises above all else, is not just becoming, but helping others become.

let us be like the Savior: humble, selfless, and full of passion. let us be active in fighting for truth and freedom for ALL, whether they be captives to war, the world, or their own addictions (summed up in being captive to the devil). let us be active in fighting against the servants of satan that uphold his work.

find your passion and fight for it.

faith.hope.charity.

peter.moosman.