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Thursday, August 31, 2023

Liberty v. Power


The love of liberty is the love of others; the love of power is the love of ourselves.
—William Hazlitt


William Hazlitt (10 April 1778 – 18 September 1830) was an English essayist, drama and literary critic, painter, social commentator, and philosopher. In the above quote, Hazlitt makes a point that is relevant today as it was over 200 years ago when he was alive. As we see more and more right wing politicians striving for greater power by taking away the liberty of those they deem unworthy or a threat to their power. They attack those who are most vulnerable: transgender youth (and all other LGBTQ+ people), immigrants, minorities, and the list grows on and on. It’s not just Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, and their followers, but this trend towards a 21st century fascism is on the rise around the world. 


Thomas Paine began his pamphlet The Crisis with these famous words, “These are the times that try men’s souls; the summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.”


The right wing politicians are definitely “summer soldier and the sunshine patriot.” They wrap their undemocratic laws and policies in the name of protecting democracy, yet they are really trying to destroy democracy. The greatest threat is that if they come to power, their tyranny will “not easily conquered.” The more laws they pass and the more the courts side with these policies, the harder it will be to undo the damage. 

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3 comments:

  1. AnonymousAugust 31, 2023 at 10:58 AM

    thank you for remembering William Hazlitt, often forgotten

    ReplyDelete
  2. JimNSSeptember 1, 2023 at 12:15 AM

    Hi Joe, Just read a very good book - "God's Works Revealed." It's a book about spirituality, theology, and social justice for gay,l lesbian, and bisexual Catholics written for Catholics but certainly applicable to all Christians. I thought of you because of the depth and sincerity of your Sunday posts but even more so for all of your posts. You come across as having a great pastoral sense. It reminds me of a comment I heard about Psalm 23. Some people know the psalm but others know the Shepherd. I'd say you know the shepherd

    .

    ReplyDelete
  3. JoeSeptember 1, 2023 at 4:40 AM

    JimNS, thank you for your kind words. I will check out your recommendation.

    ReplyDelete

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