It is said that there is nothing new under the sun. Every person in their time and place wants to believe that our current situation with it's debates, issues, and struggles is unique, though we know it is most likely not.
There is a beauty to the cycle of history. Once every century or so (as in the 20th century, more than once) most great civilizations encounter a major rift that shakes down their beliefs and forces them to consider their ultimate values. These values, in turn, are sharpened by experience and wisdom. As citizens of the United States, this process always seems to bring us back to the same place.
Crisis Breeds Conviction
In the Declaration of Independence, our forefathers wrote, ”We Mutually Pledge To Each Other Our Lives, Our Fortunes And Our Sacred Honor.” Of the 56 signers of the Declaration, “Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons in the revolutionary army, another had two sons captured. Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the revolutionary war.”
These men had conviction. They believed in the value of humankind and the right of self-governance; they were prepared to live and die for their values.
Conviction Must Be Paired With Practicality
It is easy to become entrapped in ideas that seem excellent and well-meaning, but do not work in the real world.
The Greatest Generation and their progeny, the Boomers, faced many major world altering events including World War II, The Cold War, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Vietnam and Korean Wars among others. They watched as President Reagan proclaimed those famed words, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”
The Communism that led to the Soviet Union was an idealistic idea that could not bear its own weight. The Bolshevik’s vision of a new commiunist utopia led to the creation of an all-powerful government by whose command ~5.6 million Russians were killed.
Practicality Leads to Local and Personal Governance
The innately American belief in taking responsibility for the outcomes of our actions and for preserving freedom forces us to be active in our protection of those privileges.
This does not mean that everyone needs to run for office, hand out fliers, or prosthelytize on Facebook. Rather, it means living a life that reflects those convictions.
Being self-aware and responsible requires a level of education and training in many subjects, but one that is commonly overlooked is the preparation for our own personal defense.
We at OXYS wish to uphold the values of our forefathers and preserve the rights of the citizens of the United States of America. By becoming a responsible firearm owner, you can protect yourself and others while joining us in the pursuit of this ultimate goal.
We would love to meet with you and see you at one (or more!) of our future events or classes.
Have a splendid day!
Written by Donnie Emmack