Troubles

How does one keep faith, walk the tight rope when confronted with external forces and happenings that are contrary to the values and beliefs that one holds dear ? There are numerous stories of inspirational folks like Gandhi, MLK, Madiba etc... but then the average joe doesn’t have the mental fortitude to act like these inspirational people. Don’t get me wrong they all had their short comings - for example one can argue that MDKCG was an racist because he fought for the betterment of brown folk and not all folk while in SA.

History is not kind on people that don’t show a backbone - there are many examples of what happened post the end of WW2 to the folks that supported the Nazis. In that same context I wonder how would history treat various groups which have political leanings but don’t want to take part in elections ? Radicals have always had support from people that believe their lifestyle is in danger and radicals always exploit this situation. 

What is it that will allow people to discover their backbone and if not discover then grow a backbone ?  

Difficult question that has perplexed me over the last few years more so In the last 2 months - I am surprised with the reaction and lack of it to something that would have been mind numbing a decade or so ago. People across the world have surrendered to the thugs. The thug tells you what to do and if you don’t, the thug spins a yarn that says you and your dependent’s will die. The thug holds your life in ransom and is able to get you to comply with the thugs story because you don’t want to die. It’s classical thuggery - hold for ransom something that the victim holds dear. I love my life but would I give into a thug ? I doubt it. I understand that by me giving in to the thug I am condemning not just my life but also the life of people I hold dear. The very act of me agreeing to the thug to try and safeguard my loved ones condemns them and me.  I doubt if I can do what some folks have done ;that is to beg for forgiveness from an oppressive power to save my life. Such an life is worthless; for I would have surrendered to the thugs. 

Well this understanding of the situation still doesn’t answer the question of growing a backbone or discovering it and or how to shield one’s loved ones from the repercussions.  I for sure don’t want to change the mindset of people that have been taken in by the myth propagated by the thugs or try and explain to them the core problem in their thought process - they are far gone and probably cannot be redirected towards what may the appropriate thought. Some of them might if they discover the errors in their ways. I am more interested in the question and it’s possible answer because maybe it helps some who is not completely lost. 

In the day of instant gratitude through social media, a simple comment like “why are we not speaking about it” can cause a lot of folks to take a position on some extreme of the political spectrum. The funny thing is that they are now all “speaking about it”. Did anyone grow a backbone or discover their backbone - no.  Does media make it appear like someone grew a backbone because an entire way of life is at stake - yes.

A perverse bastardisation of the ideas of liberty, fraternity and equality is what allows the thug to hold your life in ransom. An understanding of the actual meaning of those three words would free one from the bondage of the meaning. To be free, to be equal and to have common goals of betterment of life is what gives one a backbone or allows one to discover it. 

C