NEW AMERICAN TRUTH: December 2007

Citizens of Liberty: My Christmas List
Jeff Houghton

Here we are – already in December! Thanksgiving is past and the wonder of Christmas is just around the corner. My wife is asking for gift ideas for myself that she can use, and that she can pass along to family members. That is one question I always find difficult to answer. What is it that I really need or want? Granted, there is always gear to lust after. But I am pretty particular about my gear, and in that arena I have expensive tastes that are way outside the family norms for gift purchases.

As I was allowing this question to rattle around between my ears, I received a reminder email from the editor that my December article was already past due. Aha! There is the subject for the December article – my Christmas list. Then I ran into my second problem – what should the list entail? Perhaps I could compile the neatest list of gear or weapons, or the latest books/movies/training courses? No, that is not really a good idea. I’m not particularly qualified in those areas and don’t have access to many of those items, and many, many others write those kinds of lists. Then it came to me – I would develop a Christmas list that would help create a more perfect world. Not only that, it won’t cost people a thing to give me this list. Well, they won’t have to dig into their wallets and spend any cash to make it happen. This list may not be totally inclusive, but it is a great start. Feel free to send me your additions and/or deletions to this list at CitizensofLiberty@newamericantruth.com.

Absolute Truth
This would be the first item on my list – that everyone recognize that absolute truth does, in fact, exist. That is a pretty simple request, really. Not everything in this world is relative. Two plus two equals four, not 3, not 4.1, and not 381. If two plus two were allowed to be anything we want it to be, our lives would be very different. There would be no consistency and dependability in our lives. Absolute truths apply to all people, at all times, and in all places. Think of the Law of Gravity as one of these truths.

This concept does not only apply to mathematics, it extends to many other areas of our lives. As just one example, consider this question: Does evil exist? While we may disagree on the cause of evil (i.e. nature vs. nurture), the bottom line is that evil does exist. Proof of this is so widespread that I won’t even begin to list all the possibilities. Just find someone who has been a Patrol Officer in a large city for more than a few months and they will erase any doubts as to the existence of evil.

By the way, these truths – the ones that are absolute in nature - do not exist just because I say they do, or because a group of individuals say they do. These truths have been shown time and again to be true. You and I may have disagreements about how they came to be, but we cannot say they don’t exist and remain intellectually honest. Which leads me to the next item on my list.

Intellectual Honesty
Sometimes when confronted with an absolute truth, it will challenge some of our deeply held personal beliefs. At that point we have a choice – do we change our personal beliefs, or do we keep our personal beliefs and ignore the truths presented to us?

If we choose to ignore the truth and hold onto our personal experiences, prejudices, and biases, then we are being intellectually dishonest. We now know the truth, but we are so comfortable with how we have been doing things or so worried about what others might think that we refuse to acknowledge the truth.

Unfortunately, in this self-constructed fantasy world where we choose to ignore absolute truth, we are only deceiving ourselves. So in a way, in requesting intellectual honesty in others as my Christmas gift, I am helping them from being deceived.

If personal deception was where intellectual dishonesty ended, it wouldn’t be a huge problem. It is sad that so many of our leaders in business, politics, and religion spread the intellectual dishonesty among those they lead. I’m not sure why they cannot see that it is ultimately destructive to their businesses, their governmental entity, and their religion, but they don’t.

Political Correctness – Gone
My definition of political correctness is the reluctance to stand for what is right if it might offend someone. Whether it comes from all the litigation in our society, or the feminization of our boys, or from some other source, it is sickening to watch. My Christmas wish to eliminate political correctness stems from a deep-seated desire to see justice, fairness, and equality – and it can be accomplished without spending a dime on me.

No More Wimps
In a way this one request wraps up all the others. While it can be directed at both genders, it is primarily directed to men. My Christmas wish is for individuals to be responsible and accountable for their actions. Don’t shirk responsibility, don’t pass the buck, and don’t avoid the issue.

When confronted with absolute truth, recognize it, accept it, and see what personal beliefs have to be adjusted in light of this truth. Refuse to be intellectually dishonest with others and, more importantly, with yourself. When you see a wrong, stand up and correct it.

Did you father a child? Then step up and be the father by providing financial, physical, emotional, and spiritual support and guidance. Do NOT be the wimp and let the mother fend for herself.

Are you married? Do you have a family? Then support them. Don’t send your wife out into the workplace every day to generate financial resources while you sit on the couch at home.

Do you see others who are in a tough situation and cannot defend or provide for themselves? Then do something about it. Do your part to spread justice by engaging and defeating evil.

Again, the great thing about this Christmas gift is that you don’t have to spend a dime on me. But realize that every single one of these issues – absolute truth, intellectual honesty, eliminating political correctness, and not being a wimp – may cost you in other ways.

It may cost you in your current beliefs. It may cost you in your current friends and it may alienate some family members. You might offend others. It might cost you some time and money to help others. It might introduce you to new people and places. And it just might give you a multitude of smiles and appreciation as people’s lives are impacted for the better.

Ultimately this is not just about helping others. It is also about releasing us from prisons that we are in; prisons we may not even realize hold us captive; prisons that we may have helped to construct. Destroying the walls of these prisons frees us to live life to its fullest, without any garbage or baggage holding us back and it frees us to have a positive impact on our society.

That completes my Christmas list – simple in its components and profoundly difficult in its execution. I see it as a benefit to myself and those around me. It’s pretty easy to see that our society is getting worse instead of better. I say that reluctantly, because I still believe that America is the single greatest nation of all times. I think a major reason for our downward slide is that we have become a nation of wimps who refuse to stand up and do the right thing, regardless of the personal cost. As has been attributed to Edmund Burke “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” I don’t know about you, but I don’t want evil to prevail on my watch.