I won't put GENIE BACK IN THE BOTTLE!

What if I admitted to you that it's scary? What if I told you that many days I get tired of being different? What if I confided in you that poking the tiger often leaves me feeling unbalanced and out-of-sorts? What if I told you that, sometimes, I want to shovel the dirt back into the rabbit hole?

What if I told you that critically examining every piece of information I'm presented with leaves me drained? What if I told you that I sometimes wish to lower my head and rejoin the safety of the flock? What if I told you that re-examining and critiquing every custom and belief I had instilled in me as a child leaves me feeling insecure and frightened?

What if I told you I must find the truth no matter where it lies? What if I told you that I can't turn it off, that I can't disengage, that I can't simply decide to become "normal" again? What if I told you that, for me, knowing the truth and living my ideals trumps any temporary desire to soothe my soul with platitudes?

What if I told you that living freely doesn't come easy? What if I told you that questioning everything scares the hell out of me? What if I told you my biggest fear was losing everything I had because I failed to conform? What if I told you that following this path is lonely and confusing?

But what if I told you I can't stop? And furthermore, what if I told you I couldn't stop even if I knew for certain that every one of my fears would come to pass? What if I told you that, no matter what, I can't and won't put the genie back in the bottle?

161

YOUR CHILD COULD HAVE BEEN A HERO

What if I told you teaching your children to think for themselves is an affront to the state? What if I told you home educating your children chips away at the government's power? What if I told you instructing your children to be obedient perpetuates the lie that we need authority figures to lead us? What if I told you those in power do not want your children to be truly educated? What if I told you they want all of us to remain compliant and stupid?

What if I told you they prefer a population of dumbed down, acquiescent citizens who don't realize they're being oppressed? What if I told you a population of educated, free-thinking, capable people scares our leaders to death? What if I told you that each child who succeeds without the help of government-schooling erodes the legitimacy of the state?

What if I told you homeschooling is an overt act of rebellion? What if I told you declining to submit your children to government-school indoctrination ticks them off? What if I told you refusing to follow the herd makes you a hero?

What if I told you that you are the resistance?
What if I told you they prefer a population of dumbed down, acquiescent citizens who don't realize they're being oppressed? What if I told you a population of educated, free-thinking, capable people scares our leaders to death? What if I told you that each child who succeeds without the help of government-schooling erodes the legitimacy of the state?
What if I told you homeschooling is an overt act of rebellion? What if I told you declining to submit your children to government-school indoctrination ticks them off? What if I told you refusing to follow the herd makes you a hero? 
What if I told you that you are the resistance?

THE GOLDEN RULE

THE GOLDEN RULE

Most people believe in the Golden Rule (i.e., don't do to others what you don't want to be done to yourself). 

But if so, how can Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot and Hitler be explained?

I think the reason is that people make too many exceptions from the Golden rule. One of the most common exceptions is the way people treat children (it's considered perfectly OK to beat a child, to make her stand in the corner, to call her "stupid", to force her to eat everything on her plate, to let her cry alone and ignore her cries).

Be sensitive enough.

The other exceptions is what's allowed to the governments. People tend to find justifications when the government is doing things which they would condemn individuals for doing.

Once there are no recognizable exceptions to the Golden Rule, once people are not be fooled into believing "I kill, beat, rob or imprison people for the Common Good, or for the good of the Country, or for the good of the People", rulers like Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot and Hitler will have very hard time to subjugate the people.

I believe in Golden Rule, no exceptions. What's hateful to you, don't do it to others. That's the beginning, the end and the middle of it. The rest is the commentary.