DDoF2May24
There is always a specific, critical moment in time where a revolution ignites, sending all those directly or indirectly involved into the abyss of suffering and destructive despair. We need these types of moments as a benchmark of our ever evolving map of civilization and history. It is this moment that we tend to rest our intellectual resolve upon, because we need a clear distinction of when it was appropriate to begin the savage mutilation of each other. I believe this is a flawed approach to understanding the human condition of conflict.
I believe that the revolution is always alive and burning brightly in the hearts and minds of people all around the world. It is in the hearts of people in China. It is in the hearts of people in Niger. It is in the hearts of people in Venezuela. It is in the hearts of people in Ireland. It is in the hearts of people in El Salvador. It is in the heart of people in America. It is everywhere. The question is not why it happens, but instead, why is it eternal?
We all suffer. Some suffer more than others. And some suffer in ways we can’t currently fathom. These individuals live in a place of utter despair and pain. When the individual grows exhausted from the suffering they break or fight. Or perhaps the revolutionaries break and then fight. Whichever way it happens the outcome is a deep desire to fight against what they perceive as oppression. Against God, ideology, government, or specific men, the revolutionary redirects their pain against others in the attempt to seek radical change through violence.
From what I can make out of the historical record, the real revolutionaries of history were smart men with a great ability to inspire the downtrodden and desperate. They would prey on those who have limited hope for carving out meaning amidst the current system. They would essentially preach their revolutionary ideas to those willing to listen and bring them into the fold of dissent by making them feel empowered. Who doesn’t want to feel empowered?
These revolutionary movements grow slowly because it is extremely difficult to convince most people to die for something bigger than themselves. Yet, with relentless influence, the revolution grows like a religious force in the hearts of those who believe. Eventually, those who cross the threshold of the fear of dying place themselves on the battlefield of history, ready to make their mark on the grand map of life. Victory or death is a timeless cry for a reason.
What I offer those contemplating the allure of the revolutionary spirit, be careful what you seek. You see, the revolutionary spirit does not solely sit in the hearts of one group of people. It sits in us all. Especially in those who have faced the breath of death before. Those men who have seen the brutality of war are much more than simple, obedient soldiers. They are reluctant revolutionaries desperate to keep their beliefs and families protected in the shade of peace. So much so, they are willing to kill for it. They are the true revolutionaries in time. They are the most brave and courageous among us. They are the ones that truly protect the innocent and the weak. They are the map makers.
It is important to stand up for your beliefs. I tell my daughters this regularly. I tell them to do so with courage and respect. I tell them that everyone has the right to speak freely, and to live as they deem fit, unless it forces others into submission. This is tyranny. These are the lessons that their ancestors have fought for in this country for 248 years. This is what they will have to fight for in the future. I pray that their fight will be one of ideas. I pray that the shade of peace is not ripped down. I pray they will not have to bear witness to blazing flames of death and despair. I pray that this country does not have to face any more revolutions. For we have felt death enough.