Michael Miller stopped by our offices for a visit. During our conversation we quickly realized that we need to get what he was saying on video.
Michael Miller is the Research Fellow and Director of Acton Media
http://www.acton.org
- - - - - TRANSCRIPT - - - - -
I think one of the things we have to remember is, it's hard to remember, but I think that we have to remember that we take liberty for granted. We just think it is normal. If you're an American you think liberty is a normal state of the human condition. But, history tells us that liberty is rare. Lord Acton has this great line that says, "Liberty is the delicate fruit of a mature civilization." And, if we think about that- that it's delicate, so you can lose it very easily. But, what kind of civilization- a mature civilization.
I mean, I actually think that we are in a crisis of adulthood, and other people have been talking about this. Liberty requires mature adults who take responsibility of themselves. When I say adult I don't mean over 25 or over 21 or something. I don't mean over 18. There are people who are over 65 years old that are adolescences. We need mature adults who take responsibility of themselves. The problem is that sounds boring, but that's false. It's a lie. Being an adult is invigorating. Being an adult means you can make decisions for yourself, and if you make bad decisions then you get the consequences of those decisions and that's what's called experience.
This is not a popular thing to say, but we live in a highly adolescent culture, because freedom requires sacrifice. Now we kind of hear, "Oh, freedom requires sacrifice..." I mean, it does require the sacrifice of our troops, but freedom requires personal daily sacrifice. Lord Acton said that, "Freedom has been a hard thing to hold on to." But he also said that, "Freedom is not the ability to do what you want, but the right to do what you ought." And, so you can't have self-government without individuals who govern themselves, and who are the only people that govern themselves- adults. Children don't govern themselves. Right? If you raise children you have to help them govern themselves. You teach them.
The purpose of raising a child, is that you don't raise a child- right. James Stenson says, "You don't raise a child, you raise an adult." Because, you're preparing that child to take care of himself, and be responsible, and solve problems. And I think that unfortunately we have an adolescent culture that is focused on self-gratification that's immediate. But liberty doesn't come with immediate self-gratification. Alexis de Tocqueville says that the dangers of extreme liberty we see, but we don't see the dangers of extreme equality. As I said before, equality creates a level of comfort that enervates people and takes away their capacity to be free, because freedom requires heroism.
Aristotle said that the free person is a virtuous person. A free person is a virtuous person who takes responsibility, who seeks after the good. But, let's face it. Let's say somebody's watching me talk here and I say, "In order to be free you need to be adults." Well, that's not very inspiring. But if I say, "Hey, we need a national action plan." That's exciting. The problem is that national action plans don't bring freedom. I mean freedom in some ways is the most exhilarating thing ever, because you have before you a multitude of options. Freedom, as exhilarating as it is, actually is kind of boring, hard work. It takes adults; and being an adult means you can have fun but you can't be capricious and whimsical and do what you want all the time. Because, if you do an action, that action has consequences and you need make a decision to live out your promises.
George Washington said, "Let us not think we can have liberty without morality, or morality without religion." Why? Because, if you're not a moral individual who takes care of yourself, and who takes care of the people around you, and is responsible, then somebody has to do it for you because you need social order. Social order either comes from inside us, or social order comes from outside us, but anarchy can't last forever.
Loading...
4:45
The Birth of Freedom Shorts - 2 - Judaism and Human Rightsby actoninstitute2,216 views
@Funbean93 Please will you send me some money since I don't have enough to pay my rent? Since you believe wealth should be spread around, I would appreciate some from you.
carpentersdaughter2 2 months ago
@Funbean93 Can I have some of your money? Please, I need to make my rent payment and I need money desperately.
carpentersdaughter2 2 months ago
He's right. People need to grow up and be responsible. So rather than bitching at the protestors, how about you go to the source of the problem. Don't know what it is? Then do your fucking research.
Funbean93 2 months ago
Mostly, they're sick of the influence of corporations on politics. Also, if you think that they shouldn't be protesting and they should be out looking for a job, think again, because guess what: THERE AREN'T ANY JOBS.
Funbean93 2 months ago
You're an idiot. They're not out there because they didn't/don't work hard. They're out there because they're fed up with all the bullshit that's been going on. Look at the statistics. 99% of the population is sharing 1% of the wealth. That's not the way it used to be. The impression created by much of the media that the protestors do not have clear demands is false. If you ACTUALLY payed attention to what's going on in the world, you would know that.
Funbean93 2 months ago
What does being a christian conservative have to do with it?
Funbean93 2 months ago
WOW! I has paused it to address my point at 4:22...the next fucking line was,"...but Anarchy can't last forever."
MrAnymeansnecessary 3 months ago
After about 4:00, isn't he in a world of utter fantasy? I am reminded of Emma Goldman's essays on Anarchism; this manufactured indignation at the labeling of the ignorant masses as "ignorant masses". (Not excluding myself). The fundamental concept of Anarchy is that no one has the right to govern no one, because each has the capacity to govern themselves. Not only the capacity, but the only yet-to-be actualization of doing such.
MrAnymeansnecessary 3 months ago
I AGREE ABOUT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT, PROBABLY BECAUSE I AM A CHRISTIAN CONSERVATIVE!!
goldytazar 4 months ago
The majority who are protesting wall street would rather give up their freedoms so they can be cared for. They are lazy and don't want to work hard like everyone else who has succeeded in life. These people irritate me to no end, and it's these people who work hard to get freedoms taken away just so they can be cared for.
What a bunch of lazy people.
carpentersdaughter2 4 months ago