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Independence Day: A message about fearLet’s be honest. Being called nasty names or boycotted, etc., is small potatoes in the context of things POSTED: July 4, 2015
By Brian Camenker Today, July 4, we celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the Revolutionary War which made the United States of America a reality. But for many of us it’s a much different feeling than in past years. This used to be a proud and happy occasion. Now we sit stunned by how the Constitution and our freedoms have been torn apart. In particular, the recent week of US Supreme Court decisions have been a terrible blow. It’s likely that many people aren’t pondering the first Revolution – but they do think about a second revolution of some kind that must take place. At the same time, there’s another emotion overtaking us. On two different occasions this past week, I was talking to local pro-family activists and the subject of their fear came up. They had read our recent MassResistance article about the Supreme Court “gay marriage” ruling where we stressed that the first job in the battle is for all of us to fearlessly tell the truth about the radical agenda we’re fighting. If Dr. Church can do it, we all must, we wrote. They basically told me, “We’ve seen what happens to you, Brian, and to Dr. Church. And we’re afraid. We don’t want to be harassed, or lose our jobs. That’s just the way it is.” They talked about how glad they are that I and a cadre of others are engaged on the battle front. They’re glad to be able to help while keeping behind the scenes. Of course, that’s the reaction that the other side wants. The Left is amoral and brutal. The building blocks of their brave new world are endless lies and deception. To keep that going, terror is their modus operandi. And homosexuals in particular, due to their trauma and anger lurking under the surface, can be quite vicious. Anyone who gets in their way can expect to be attacked and demonized in the various media that they dominate. Looking at things in perspectiveBut let’s be honest. Being called nasty names or boycotted, etc. (which usually happens) is small potatoes in the context of things. The men who signed the Declaration of Independence back in 1776 would put us all to shame. What kind of men were the 56 signers who adopted the Declaration of Independence and who, by their signing, committed an act of treason against the crown? ... With only a few exceptions, such as Samuel Adams of Massachusetts, these were men of substantial property. All but two had families. The vast majority were men of education and standing in their communities. They had economic security as few men had in the 18th Century. … Each had more to lose from revolution than he had to gain by it. John Hancock, one of the richest men in America, already had a price of 500 pounds on his head. He signed in enormous letters so that his Majesty could now read his name without glasses and could now double the reward. Ben Franklin wryly noted: "Indeed we must all hang together, otherwise we shall most assuredly hang separately." … These men knew what they risked. The penalty for treason was death by hanging. And remember, a great British fleet was already at anchor in New York Harbor. They were sober men … They were all conservatives, yet they rebelled. They risked everything they had for a principle. And many of them eventually suffered enormously, including death. It makes us seem pretty pathetic in comparison. I think of this a lot when people talk to me about how “brave” I am for simply doing what we all ought to be doing.
Human nature . . . and winning the battleBut I guess I sort of understand it. Those 56 men were extraordinary. My brother, a college professor, observes a lot of human nature. He keeps telling me that across humanity cowardice is the norm. It’s how the average person is, he says. True bravery is not the norm. But it can be developed and nurtured. We must look to the many outstanding exceptions. I am constantly thrilled at the tenacity and fearlessness of some of the individuals in this effort. Some of the mothers in particular stand out, but there are fathers, clergy, and other regular people who have demonstrated sterling qualities and have done amazing things in the face of deep hostility.
Students of history will tell you that a struggle against an oppressive regime and cowardice do not mix. But when the participants learn to cast off or control their fears, they gain enormous power. A dramatic example of that was Martin Luther King Jr.’s civil rights victories. WATCH our video: Fearlessly Telling the Truth (3 min 18 sec)
The Bible teaches us about misplaced fear. When Moses sent the 12 tribal leaders into Canaan to explore the land promised to them (Numbers Ch. 13-14), all but two came back with dreadful stories about the giant-sized inhabitants and their fortified cities, and the impossibility of defeating them. The Israelites heard the reports and rebelled, bewailing to Moses that they’d be better off back as slaves in Egypt. God made the Israelites wander 40 years in the wilderness until that entire generation died off – and the new generation fearlessly entered the Promised Land.
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