By Don Urbatsch
The new release of The Hunger Games is coming out soon and it got me thinking. I’ve read the series as I have children in the target demographic and I like to be up on the popular culture and personally verify the media that they consume. What I was thinking however is, how can the concept of a tyrannical, elitist, overreaching government be such an easy concept to accept in a work of young adult fiction, but be dismissed as having the proverbial snowball’s chance in hell of ever happening in our reality? . . .
There must be a name for this social phenomenon. I wouldn’t know what it is, but I believe it’s a function of the length of time a society is removed from certain historical events. The founders of our country were acutely aware of their own history and if you tried to suggest that a government would never overreach its constitutional authority, I suspect that they would have thought you a raving lunatic.
If you have grandparents or great grandparents that lived during The Great Depression you would find them to be fiscally responsible in a way that later generations (I’m in this group myself) that never knew true hunger or deprivation can even comprehend. Now, we’d say “Why should I save money, when I want things right now?” No matter how well (or not) history is taught today, the effects of time and complacency will outweigh the strength of the lessons our forefathers learned first-hand.
There will always be those who think that tyranny can never happen here. Those who govern us only have our best interests at heart. And there will be those who understand the human condition well enough to know that tyranny and oppression exist not in a government but in the hearts of men and must be continually fought and guarded against. Anyone who cares enough to pay attention has seen the opportunistic attacks on our Second Amendment rights during the last year and there’s no reason to believe those who would limit that civil right would be happy to stop there. How many assaults on our freedoms will it take for those who believe in the inherent beneficence of government to wake up and smell the coffee?
Everybody run in a blind panic towards the few exits. That’s were most of the bodies will be found by the clean up people. If you’re in a pew and armed, get low and wait.
If you ain’t armed, shame on you. Unless you live in a constitution free zone. Then you avoid malls, arenas and othering gatherings as much as possible.
Not just our 2A rights. Feinstein has also gone after the 1st Amendment (suggesting you need a government license to be a news reporter), and there are constant attacks against the Internet and radio/TV news in the form of “Fairness” doctrines. Tyranny exists and is waiting only for a chance to stick its nose under the tent flap.
The answer to the main question: Truth is stranger than fiction.
How many assaults on our freedoms will it take for those who believe in the inherent beneficence of government to wake up and smell the coffee?
What I’m smelling in Washington isn’t coffee. As long as people get their free sh1t, they will kiss the G’s @ss and ask for more. Of course, free sh1t isn’t free, but then again, nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public.
To be fair, zombie fiction is pretty popular too. Doesn’t mean it stands much chance of happening.
I don’t write off the possibility of tyrannical government or societal collapse, but I do think some folks overestimate the possibility.
Two possible reasons.
1. The very fact that tyranny has been so sensationalized in media makes people unable to comprehend it being a reality. In all forms of media – or at least all forms of media a low-information voter would absorb – evil and tyranny are loud, bombastic, unsubtle entities. Cobra from GI Joe, dark-armor wearing demons from fantasy, people who were proud to be evil and flaunted it. So, naturally, that is what a common mind may be on the lookout for. “Obama can’t be a treacherous liar, he looks so normal and says he’s a nice guy.”
2. Normalcy bias. The more apathetic, weak, and unprepared a mind, the harder it is for them to comprehend breaking their mold. People will cling to a perceived state of normalcy even as the world crashes around them, because they are too weak to face the reality of fighting back. “Government will protect me, police are my guardian angels, my overlords know best.”
I’ve found it sickly humorous how many movies Hollywood is putting out about an overreaching, all-knowing Big Brother. I’m left wondering if the writers thought it up, or if they’re just reading the news. The fact that Hollywood is generally Liberal really leaves me scratching my head.
“How many assaults on our freedoms will it take for those who believe in the inherent beneficence of government to wake up and smell the coffee?”
You have to consider that there are people in this country who have no idea what freedom is. And that’s assuming they care in the first place…
I’ve been looking for an AK to purchase a slide fire bump stock for. It just looks too fun and I’d like to find a unit cheap enough to make it worthwhile and still be a solid piece. Anybody try or know if the slide fire SSAK-47 XRS will fit the Century Pap? Not looking to add a bunch of bells and whistles, just a red dot, bump stock and ammo 🙂
hugs,
HM
Most won’t realize it’s happening until it’s far too late to stop it. For their sakes we need to fight them off as long as we can and keep trying to sound the alarm in the hope, however vain it might be, that some of them will wake up and answer the call.
Most won’t realize it’s happening until it’s far too late to stop it. For their sakes we need to fight them off as long as we can and keep trying to sound the alarm in the hope, however vain it might be, that some of them will wake up and answer the call.
Most won’t realize it’s happening until it’s far too late to stop it. For their sakes we need to fight them off as long as we can and keep trying to sound the alarm in the hope, however vain it might be, that some of them will wake up and answer the call.
I trained with the M16A2 in the Marines in the early ’90’s, have played with many of the M-4geries over the years. Picked up an M1A squad scout a few years ago and will never go back! Powerful, accurate, and reliable, plus the very satisfying sound of hitting steel at two hundred yards. But I am not a purest! I took what was already wonderful rifle changed it up.
I put it in a S.R.S.S. “Buldog” bull pup stock, which shortened the whole rifle by 12″, while allowing me to keep an 18″ barrel, and moved the balance point over the pistol grip. Added an SEI castle nut adapter to allow me to mount a Battle Comp compensator. Mounted flip up iron sights and an EOtech XPS with a flip to side 3x magnifier, and a grip pod fore grip.
Now I have the power, reliability, and accuracy of an M1A and the functionality of a CQB rifle ( actually quite a bit shorter than a standard M4 ). Just recently graduated a FrontSight 4 day practical rifle course with it. Performed like a dream. I know there are a lot of purists out there, but this mod takes the M1A to a whole new level! Oh, and the conversion took about 40 min. In my living room.
Because claiming the government can overreach makes you an extremist. Now excuse me while I go shove my head back up my a**.
One man’s tyranny is another man’s common sense government. That’s the problem.
Cool, looks like 1911s aren’t banned. Carry on….
That image just mean black Beretta 92s are banned. If you have a white Beretta 92 then you are good to go. I never thought I would see racism against guns. So sad……
The Government does not have a duty to protect the individual, just a duty to protect society as a whole. Therefore, according to Constitutional law, the right for individual self defense is there.
We all know the 9mm only kills the body whilst the .45 kills the soul, however based on capacity/ease of reload I’d take the Kahr hands down.
I think this poll is going to be as lopsided an Armed Intelligentsia 2012 presidential election exit poll.
They are too busy busting peaceful people who have the wrong foliage in their possession.
Double tap is a Bic lighter with just two lights. Kahr please
Kahr in 99% of situations/circumstances…the Double Tap under certain clothes/situations where absolute stealth and lighter carry were required.
Aw, why the loophole for private residences, Illinois? If you made it mandatory for gun-free households to post these signs too– why, that would make everyone even safer!
I have never and never will step out the door to my house on black friday to endure the craziness!!
Self Defense – A Christian Viewpoint, by the late Dr. Marshall St. John, (who was pastor of Wayside Presbyterian Church in Signal Mountain TN, and a gun blogger)
http://www.ammoland.com/2011/09/self-defense-a-christian-viewpoint/#axzz2ZbmTPmJ3
Went to their webpage, under contact us you can leave a brief message. I let them know exactly what I thought of their association with this and any other anti-gun group, and that as long as they associated themselves with them I would never buy a single product from them.
How can anyone not be impressed by the reaction time?
I take all PR with a grain of salt, especially when gun makers are mentioned in the same sentence or headline with activist groups. A large grain. Actually, multiple grains from the strongest salts around (not bath salts, mind you).
Give Coonan the benefit of the doubt. They might have been misled by Evolve (like antis would ever do that).
Neither.