Monthly Archives: July 2008

Alone, Admiral Byrd In The South Pole (Issue 62)

By Freedom Lady | July 8, 2008

Below is a quotation from Admiral Byrd in his autobiography, Alone, describing his experience at the South Pole.
 
“The day was dying, the night being born, but with great peace. Here were the imponderable processes and forces of the Cosmos, harmonious and soundless.  Harmony, that was it!! That was what came out of the silence, a gentle rhythm, the strain of a perfect chord. The music of the spheres, perhaps.
 
It was enough to catch that rhythm, momentarily, to be myself a part of it.  In that instant I could feel no doubt of man’s Oneness with the Universe. The conviction came that that rhythm was too orderly, too harmonious, too perfect, to be a product of blind chance, that therefore there must be purpose in the whole and that man was part of that whole, and not an accidental offshoot. It was a feeling that transcended reason; that went to the heart of man’s despair and found it groundless. The Universe was a Cosmos, not a chaos. Man was as rightfully a part of that Cosmos as were the Day and Night.”
 
I had briefly touched upon this passage in another article; however, recently found my handwritten copy of this quote made back in the 50’s, I think. I carried it in my billfold a long time. The paper is yellowed and tattered from years in my billfold, which I would take out and read from time to time, finally sticking in a file of mementos.
 
During an exploration trip to the South Pole, Admiral Byrd left his base camp and crew, setting out on an exploratory trip alone. He was caught in a severe storm and could not get back to camp. The storm was too dangerous for the men at the base camp to venture looking for him. He dug himself in the snow and set up camp at the end of the earth, alone. The storm lasted for some time and he became quite ill, losing contact with his crew at home base.
 
It is difficult to imagine being buried in snow during a storm at the bottom of the earth, cut off completely  from communication with the rest of the world, then getting sick. Not knowing when the storm would end and not knowing if you would ever be rescued. These were the conditions Admiral Byrd experienced as he felt his oneness with the universe and heard the music of the spheres, the rhythm and the perfect harmony, so beautifully described in his book, Alone.
 
For me, it is one of the most profound passages I have ever read. It’s not something written hundreds of years ago in some remote European country, but in my lifetime during the 19th century.
 
It has been so inspirational for me, particularly in this day and age where there is so much chaos, confusion and despair with every day life. In a country where so many are popping some kind of drug, prescribed and otherwise, just to try and cope for a moment, realize, and appreciate the Universe is unfolding as it should—quietly, peacefully, harmoniously, furnishing everything we need, with a perfect rhythm, and music of the spheres, as the sun rises every day. To agree with Admiral Byrd, there is a purpose in the whole design,  and all of us are a part of that universal design, with a right to be here, and a right to be a part of that perfect design.
 
And don’t think it’s necessary we go to the end of the earth at the South Pole and be stranded in a snow storm to experience that Oneness with the Universe.

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In The Course Of Human Events (Issue 61)

By Freedom Lady | July 3, 2008

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, and they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness – That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the Governed.”
 
This month of July, as we do every year, we celebrate the great document, The Declaration Of Independence. It reads on to list the oppressions and offenses by the British government and ends by stating, “For support of this Declaration, with a firm Reliance on the Protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our Sacred Honor.”
 
The Declaration of Independence and The Constitution of the United States are the founding documents of our country. The Declaration of Independence was the moral vision that preceded and set the tone for the formation of the Constitution. Three branches of government were formed—Congress to make laws, Judicial to interpret Laws, and Executive to execute the laws.
 
Just this month, the Supreme court ruled on the second amendment of the Constitution, upholding the right of individuals to bear arms that states, “a well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.” This simply means we have a right to own guns. However, as I understand it, there are areas in America where gun ownership is prohibited and the National Rifle Association plans on filing suit in those areas. Thank goodness there are still people out there fighting for the freedom to protect ourselves according to the Constitution. Yet sadly, not many.
 
For me, one of the most outstanding features of the Declaration of Independence is the phrase that states, government  DERIVES its powers from the “consent” of the governed. The question has always been for me, if I don’t give consent, where is the power derived from? One might suggest from elected candidates. But less than half the citizenry vote in elections. Less than half give their consent for all the governing laws, policies, and edicts.
 
Let’s say, for example, that I’m a law-abiding citizen and some departmental agency of government makes a policy or issues an edict restricting some area of my life and infringing upon my freedom. If no consent is given, where is the power to enforce derived from?
 
I personally find the erosion and intrusion pervasive from the tax supported school system to the Department of Motor Vehicles and other departments. The thousands of city, county and state departments make and enforce rules at the point of a gun or threat of a gun for compliance of regulations that are treated as law, passed on behind closed doors, frequently by persons so ignorant of the U.S. Constitution most probably never read it. And have little understanding and no respect for ownership of property.
 
Just this past week, I heard on the news a case of a man awakening to find a young man in his home robbing him. The owner of the property shot the intruder and the shooter was arrested and charged with a crime. Therefore, even though the Supreme Law of the land supports the notion that we have right to own guns to protect ourselves, it does not mean we will be exempt from imprisonment when one exercises that right.
 
Perhaps  during this summer vacation month when we celebrate our independence, it’s time to stop and reflect upon the limited freedoms we really do have and mourn the loss of a large slice of individual freedoms at the hands of a centralized political government, which has abrogated without the consent of the governed.
 
Perhaps the current four dollars a gallon plus for gasoline with talk of going past seven dollars, might provide some an opportunity to stay off the highways, remain home, and reflect upon what we once had, all we have lost, how it happened and what to do about it. If such is the case, then that’s a good thing, coming from the chaotic situation.
 
Let Freedom Ring!
 
JUST ME,
AC

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The Moral Imperative (Issue 60)

By Freedom Lady | July 1, 2008

Who ever thought it would be dangerous and even life threatening to eat a tomato?

I wrote the article below last year and here we are in the middle of 2008 with things only worsening dramatically within the past six months.

The dollar is sinking like a brick in a bathtub, fuel prices are rising like the Japanese Sun, and food supplies are diminishing and rising in costing every time we go to the grocery store. All this has happened in only six months after I wrote the following article.
 
To understand the difference in value judgments and principles, I’m going to cite a rather over simplification of a can of soup. 

This is a preview of The Moral Imperative (Issue 60). Read the full post (1472 words, estimated 5:53 mins reading time)
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