(( Video )) — Yes, We Do Indeed Need Another HERO!
This is NOT going to be one of those torrid, long, rant-filled blog posts that often come about when we see and hear about things that flat out deserve some “WTF wisdom”.
No, dear reader, there’s enough comical grade-school romper room antics to go around these days that we’ll save it for another time.
Some tell us, “Well, shit, it’s not like it’s so easy for me to act like an adult when there’s so many people across the board — politicians, bankers, coaches, marketers, and wanna-be gurus — acting like children.”
While we half smile and shake our heads at hearing such a juvenile excuse and lemming mentality, we also splash our Dutch Bros coffee on the table for the tainted truth it holds:
That it’s gotten more and more COOL to fall in step with normalcy, and consistently be singing off the same page. That page, more so than ever, is being written by a more pronounced socialist mindset (and, yes, government too — it’s ballooning right in front of your eyes. All you have to do is have genuine, heart-level conversations with people, and read MULTIPLE news sources to KNOW this).
Er, wait a second (screeeeeeeeeeeetch)!
Stop the presses! We promised no soap boxes this time.
Okay, so, check this out (it’ll be a brief introduction to a video clip):
As society applauds more and more conformity, who’s going to speak up for you?
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It’s harder and harder to find that crusader, that knight, that maverick, that iconoclast who cajoles, inspires, and guides you to broaden your horizons and follow your dreams.
Or is it?
Maybe there’s that brilliant somebody — that somebody who motivated you to make a stand, to take a leap, and speak up for your beliefs — right in your backyard.
Could be a loved one, a teacher, a community leader, a distant friend.
One thing’s for sure, though… the world could use more Professor Keatings.
Yes, Tina Turner, we don’t care what you think… the world does need another HERO. So, bug off!
Below is a 2-part video clip (yes, you MUST watch both, and in order, to get the message and impact) from the 1989 movie, Dead Poet’s Society.
In it, Robin Williams, playing Professor Keating, ignores conventional teaching procedures and offers his students life-changing access to a brave new world of culture, ideas, and creativity. The story revolves around how the boys are affected by the educator (who they affectionately call “Captain”, after Walt Whitman’s poem about Abraham Lincoln).
The setting is the tony Welton Academy prep school, circa 1955, and this new English Teacher makes a massive impression on his first set of students. Inspiring these kids — who’ve spent their formative years adhering to the button-down, starched and repressed rules of polite society — to “seize the day” and follow their dreams, Keating becomes a hero to many… and an enemy to a powerful few.
Part 1 ( The Foundation )
Part 2 ( The Impact )
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To us, this is one of the most impressive and inspiring movies that distill the virtues of individuality — a subject we wish more films would tackle.
Why ?
What the movie tackles is precisely what is wrong with the world. Hardly anyone is taught to think for themselves. The world is becoming full of drones and Kool-Aid drinkers; very few dare to look at things from a different view. Sad, actually.
Now, about another tainted movement worth mentioning: entitlement thinking.
It’s the idea that goes like this: “Regardless of how much I @#$% up, I can go groveling to Big Brother for a bail out.” Ah, does the BOB (Big Obama Bailout) sit pretty for you?
Or, the belief that soars into the consciousness of our children: “Yes, Mom / Dad, the world does owe me a living. I don’t need to invent, to create, or add value… whattaya thinking? They, my teach peeps, keep telling me not to worry… that all will be provided by the collective efforts of many.”
Well, it’s time to bring back another brain-zinger through Gary Cooper.
Here he is, from the 1949 film The Fountainhead, based on the novel of the same name by Ayn Rand. Gary Cooper plays Howard Roark as he defends his dynamiting of Cortlandt. Ayn Rand wrote the screenplay herself for the film, so novel purists need not worry.
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“You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot help the poor man by destroying the rich. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred. You cannot build character and courage by taking away man’s initiative and independence. You cannot help small men by tearing down big men. You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer. You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than your income. You cannot establish security on borrowed money. You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they will not do for themselves.” — originally published, 1942, by William J. H. Boetcker, and commonly attributed to Abraham Lincoln
[ Editor’s Note ] — It was Mike, from The Abraham Lincoln Observer, who gleefully came to our rescue to correct our original author credit to the above quote. A variation is often attributed to Abe Lincoln, but there’s no actual evidence that he said it. Yup, not only did we get lazy by neglecting the same due-diligence we use when interviewing and writing about mentors, we didn’t even give any related quotes from other people. You know, that’s kinda like being at a cheese party with only one type of cracker š
So, onward we go, this time with author credit dutifully checked:
From the late Dr. Adrian Rogers (1931-2005):
“You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the rich out of freedom. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that, my dear friend, is about the end of any nation. You cannot multiply the wealth by dividing it.”FromĀ Thomas Jefferson, commonly attributed to Gerald Ford:
“A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have.”From Gerald Ford, commonly attributed to Thomas Jefferson:
“A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have.”From Winston Churchill:
“The inherent vice of Capitalism is the unequal sharing of the blessings. The inherent blessing of Socialism is the equal sharing of misery.”From Ayn Rand:
“Socialism is the doctrine that man has no right to exist for his own sake, that his life and his work do not belong to him, but belong to society, that the only justification of his existence is his service to society, and that society may dispose of him in any way it pleases for the sake of whatever it deems to be its own tribal, collective good.”
Filed under: Self-Freedom
I applaud this article from the depths of my being….I applaud you for posting it!!
I have felt that Obama has the best interest of the whole country at heart. I also feel that if he taxes the rich in order to help the poor, he is gaining the support of most of the people. However, it has to be done with the consideration of how did the rich get to be rich. If they lied, cheated, etc. then they do not deserve the wealth they achieved. If they created something that we all benefit from, then yes they deserve the riches.
I think Obama’s tax plan is fair because it taxes the rich, but not enough to take all of their wealth away.
Besides, as Henry Ford said, you take a truly wealthy mans riches away from him, and a few years later, he
will be wealthy again. The source of wealth is in the mind.
I was moved by the Dead Poet’s society (again, as I saw it when it came out).
I was also inspired by Gary Cooper’s speech, which I hadn’t seen before.
But I got a tinge of that same old Obama bashing attitude out that is out there. Our currrent President has never even once given me the impression that he’s trying to hurt or take anything from anyone but the greedy few who’ve put us into this financial mess (along with predecessor and colleagues who put us in an unnecesary war which has accomplished nothing but to draine our resources and ruined and destroyed many innocent lives. Nor have I even once heard him say anything that remotely suggests that we should all sit back and wait for the government to take care of us. In fact I have heard him repeatedly say the opposite is true. I have appreciated the good I have received from you but I will not tolerate unfounded trashing of our current leader.
Sincerely,
Suzanne Nichols
[ Editor’s Note: “will not tolerate”, huh? While your sense of unrequited duty is amusing, your over-the-top, distorted view of this being a Let’s Rip on The President post is amazingly full of self-indulgent drama. Hint: quit TRYING to major in minor things. This post is about the virtues and benefits of being an iconoclastic, free-thinking person. Re-read! ]
This BLOG was so very insightful. The World owes us nothing, but the World has and will allways provide our evry need.
We need but accept our Oneness with the World and be Present in the NOW.
I salute you!
Somehow we must become a society of thinkers rather than followers. To quote a recent movie, Australia,”just because it is, doesn’t mean it should be”.
We can all just keep following the mindset of those “in power”-government, bureaucracy,etc those that would say there is only one facet of an issue & tell us what to think, do & say or we can stand up and continually question them and ourselves…what does this action effect, how is this empowering, what does this create, what does this leave, what am I trying to dominate, what is my integrity, what is my accountability? “Am I a man/woman or an amoeba?”! “Dare we be ourselves” (e.e. cummings).
To be ourselves, to actually have values and integrity, to be more than our egocentric, fearful selves. I choose to be myself. Granted, not always easy or easily accepted. It just feels better than being “asleep”.
Thanks for all you are and do. Your contribution is grand and needed.
You truly are one of the few!!
I admire you and the very few others who have the courage and integrity to remind people that self-development has nothing to do with bowing to that which you believe is wrong or unjust!
Being spiritual, responsible and practicing LOA have nothing to do with sitting on our laurels and everything to do with BEING who we are!! If we refuse to act on that, then what have we gained with all this self-development and spiritual growth?
As for me, the president is going to do the best he knows how to do, and so will the rest. BUT – as with any judge sitting on the bench, he can only work with what he is given to work with. Much of the information fed into Washington has gone there attached to agendas which are not in the best interest of the people, and if the people do nothing about that, they have asked for what they will inevitably get.
I didn’t see this post as particularly Obama bashing – though anyone who wishes to should have that right in this country – just as anyone should have a right to not read it.
He also has a responsibility to ensure the information he acts on is correct and not harmful to the people he serves.
But – this also has to do with reminding people of what is really going on (not just in politics) and reminding them of their personal, spiritual and moral responsibility to be involved.
It also has to do with our identical duty to do and to be for ourselves, rather than leach off of others – no matter the rationalization or justification works for individuals who would do otherwise. Wholly different issues.
I remember a cliche something along the lines of “Two wrongs don’t make a right.”
Thank you for a WONDERFUL and timely post!!!
Sue
Suzanne spoke my feelings as well. We all need to focus on making things work not tear apart the beginnings of a new government. It is so broken now that it is going to require all of us to do what we can to rebuild this country. Get involved locally in your schools, churches , mentor others, learn to be “for” something not against. That will attract the healing we all are looking for. I have faith that this country is full of the most amazing people who will take action and turn this situation around to even better things.
I want to thank you for having an outlet for us all to express ourselves. I will continue to be a part of your site. We all need to show compassion even when we disagree. It is helpful to keep an open mind to ideas. We all want the same things in our lives. Love , a home, and work we can feel passionate about. To feel we are an important part of life even in the smallest of ways. That smile we give a stranger can be a lifesaver. We will never know what our actions mean to others.
Peace, love and joyously free are my wishes for you all.
Even Jesus is reported to have said to give him a man who is hot or cold, but he would spit out the man who is lukewarm.
Going with the norm, becoming numb by thinking like everyone else is no different than being dead. It has been said that most men are dead by 35 and are buried at 65.
Time to wake up, use your unique voice, develop your unique talents and let no one try to make you like everyone else. A government that has the power to give the people whatever they want also has the power to take everything away from those people. Let’s remember what this country was founded on and for – INDEPENDENCE!!
I agree ! And, yes, we do need another hero.. The challenge is who we see as that hero.
It was written long ago “and you shall know them by their deeds”… But so few are willing to look objectively at the “deeds”… or lack thereof. If one would research “Edward L. Bernays” (go ahead and Google it) it would shed some light on why most people “think” as they do.
In order for us to have another hero, we must “stand on our desk”, stop getting our input from the [biased] media and re-learn how to think. The other option, I’m afraid, is to end up where we’re headed.
On the right track. Still thinking small, though. Are you familiar with Ken Wilburās work? He goes in depth about the evolution of civilization with tons of factual information. First, the mind of man was a collective mind. Then, individuals sought to know their own power apart from the whole. Hoorah! Each of these phases has taken thousands of years. The next consciousness, the one that truly brings the fulfillment for which we all yearn, is to acknowledge our individuality and use it freely and consciously to participate in creating yet a different world ā a world where each individual understands their precious value within the whole, and through his/her free will contributes to the harmonious functioning of that whole environment rather than feeling compelled to compete with any part of it. This is communion which spirituality has addressed for so long in esoteric terms. This new way of interacting with life honors individuality yet creates an environment that is in harmony with nature rather than attempting to control nature. Only a puffed up ego and defensive mind could choose as a goal āto control natureā. Begin to acknowledge the infinity of nature and you will come to understand that the view of individuality as Supreme has some basic flaws inherent in it. Ken Wilbur in his renowned works does explain this much more clearly than I can do in a few words. Gregg Braden is also on the same track but more symbolic and therefore remains more open to more errant interpretation. Please, if you are truly committed to assisting others in becoming their best selves and attaining their full potential, keep going beyond what you think now instead of getting hung up on individuality and control of nature. Experience the liberation of feeling truly valuable (which is inherently housed in interrelationship, or communion) rather having to prove your separateness in court like Howard Roark and which left him feeling isolated in the long run. Conscious communion is the glory of individuation. Best to all of you. You are here with me on this earth, in this universe, and I wish for you and I to work together toward a greater good, toward conscious betterment of life for all life, for conscious communion.
Responsibility (accountability and self-development) is the price of freedom.
It’s time to ask ourselves: What’s going to work best for ALL of us; in personal terms, and in terms of business, education, the envoronment and peace.
It’s time to give equal value to both our oneness AND individuality. The long term survival of mankind depends not on service to self OR service to others. It depends on service to self AND others, including nature.
Nature can survive without us but, as human beings, we cannot survive without nature.
“We are not human beings having a human experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.” – Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
What can we do today for the selves we’ll be tomorrow?
Pete
You [ Editor’s Note: whoever the “You” he’s talking to, we have no clue, as we never said what good ol’ Steve is about to say ] are sadly mistaken if you think Obamas actions are only hurting or taking from the rich.
They are in fact giving to the rich and stealing from everyone else. Money does not spring from thin air and its value is not set in stone. Our country is broke but this man seeks to set up universal services that must be paid for. If you go to the store with no money in hand how can you expect to come home with anything?
The answer is stealing… that’s the only way. Taxes are set in place to steal from me and you to pay for those who are to lazy or unwilling to help themselves. No one has a right to my earning but me to force them out of me is nothing but theft. [ Editor’s Note: Agreed ! ] To defend the man requires a staggering portion of ignorance, ignorance to history, ignorance to the roots of our law, ignorance to the impact of what he is doing, and plain ignorance to what is right and wrong.
Steve
Thank You Barry and Heather for sharing Infinite Awareness. Love Your site …
Would love to share this with our fellow souls, as well. Thanks so much.
TRANSFORMING … A āSoā Simple solution to be shared
What we perceive as Huge Problems is always actually the simplicity of the solution! A little insightā¦Once we bust through our fears (Programming) there is always a gift āOn the other Sideā
Changing this World is so incredibly simple.
1. As Individualsā¦ we step out of the fear of what other people think. Because it doesnāt matter! Start living your truth, your uniqueness instead of somebody elseās version of what we should be. Cease to be a sheep and collectively as more people change we cease being the Herd.
2. Allow Everyone Elseā¦to express their uniqueness, even though it differs from ours. At which point we cease to be the āsheep dogā of the rest of the Herd.
Balance Point
No one seeks to impose what they believe on anyone else, So Always Respecting FREE WILL and then we will unleash the suppressed diversity within the Human Race and transform this world.
Because so often people manifest energy as violence, conflict, and crime due to the frustration that it can not manifest in any other way. Because the potential of that person can not express its self.
When WE start to glory and celebrate the Great Diversity of Humanity. The great diversity of genetic structure, of physical body, of color, of creed, of culture, then we will start to glory and celebrate in the diversity.
Instead of allowing (The Fear Manipulation based programming) to become the fault line through which we are currently being manipulated and RULED!.
Itās that simple, just a change of Mindset away, and the change of Imagination of Self away!
My God, changing this world so incredibly simple. We just need to Change US!!
Sharing with Total Gratitude and Love for all Nature. Please share this with a friend.
Your Pal Aways,
Ken Klose
āInfinite Love Is The Only Truthā¦Everything Else is Illusion!ā
From Head Back to The Heart (Vortex)
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[ EDITOR’S RESPONSE ]
“…We just need to Change US!!…”
Ken, your solutions, while noble and full of many valid points, can also (if taken out of context and approach) border on Utopian-like isolation — i.e., “If I just FOCUS on my own little world, I’ll do my part to make the ‘rest’ better.”
Er, yeaaaaah, well, ah-hem, look… we’ve addressed this in too many posts for us to give you our DETAILED view here (one post in particular that comes to mind is this one.)
For now, please just know we’re a HUGE proponent of what we call “Forest Reality Common Sense”. It’s the understanding that, regardless of how much of a free-thinking, individual, iconoclastic thinker we NEED to (must) be, we still need to INTERACT and ENAGE others “outside” of us. We live in a world that becomes effective, fun, easy, and prosperous when the collective (the majority) can still make the determination on, well, basically… what makes the most sense for themselves. When you teach or extoll isolationism, you stimy the leveraged progress that comes through debate and constructive confrontation (when needed).
When you think that by ONLY spending time and energy to create your own reality (and, remember, Ken Wilbur is fond of saying: “The only people who think they create their own reality, exclusively on their own, are psycho-paths”) will effect collective change for the better, you end up putting yourself on a pedestal that can be hard to climb down from (or… might just tip over and dump you off).
Here’s a rough example, taking things back to the practical basics: Think back to the premise and plot of the book, “The Lord of The Flies.” Ralph understood the virtue, benefits, and sanctity of having a civilized democracy — order and collective agreement. Now, as long as the collective decisions are producing a joyous, fun, effective, results-oriented environment, all is well. But, no matter how strong his convictions and pure his thoughts, he alone (regardless of how much inner-world energy he summoned up) couldn’t sway the MAJORITY — they chose the dark side.
Communication, order and democracy (represented in large part by the conch shell, which later got smashed along with those ideals) were the keys that kept them on track. Take away those, and things fall apart. We just can’t operate in a bubble separated from everybody else and expect to have effective change take place.
We must be careful not to judge others especially when there has been enough negativity in this country and this has brought us to this position of fear and desparation. I only pray that Obama will get the guidance he needs from his Spirit and that others will benefit from it. I don’t think anyone expects a free ride. If you can’t find work it is time to spend your time helping others who can’t help themselves. If you think this economy is hurting you, imagine what it is doing to the elderly and the handicapped. This will set you free!
Here’s a simple way (in my opinion) to separate who understood the point of Barry & Heather’s email, and who didn’t.
Those who got defensive and those who pointed blame didn’t get it. Those who got it know that individuality is about taking responsiblity for ones own actions, and acting from Source and center, not from reaction to the outside.
Let’s stop focusing on the man (any one particular man) and focus instead on the intentions and actions put into place. Often “leaders” are pawns played by the “powers that be” who want total world power over all – bascially slavery of all the human race to them. Think not? Then check out the “illuminati” and information unveiled by David Icke. Think this is extreme? Who would have thought Hitler could have created the torment and destruction that he did? Compared to what is taking place, Hitler was a kindergardener. Wake up , make a stand, let your voice be heard, take action in spite of the consequences. Do not die “wishing you had done something different” to make a life changing difference for all. The time is NOW!!
Hi heather,
I must say I have been following or you for years or you have contacted me over the years about various self improvement/ business ops. I have to say it was interesting to see this complete change in you and your sense of service to your fellow man via this web site. Maybe I never knew or understood your angle in the first place!…You have become a wife,a mother and a total giving person since. Bless you so much for your sharing heart and spirit.
It is through sites like this that a new world consciousness will emerge over other order and agendas.
It is by continued dialog like this that better understanding of self and others can bring truth and understanding,to UNITE just as states,governments and countries can and should do!. FEAR and UNCERTAINTY seem to be the words for the day via the news and media. let,s just start believing that things can can be better!…
[Editor’s NOTE]:
Hi Pat,
Thanks for the compliments… I’m happy that you’ve been a subscriber of mine for so long.
I actually haven’t changed much in the fact that giving value has always been my #1 goal… but I used to do it with free podcasts (personal development) and free teleseminars (internet marketing), and then Barry and I started doing free teleseminars (metaphysics) together.
Now we do more writing than interviewing, and because of that there’s more room for sharing in LONGER format, which might make it more obvious to you.
But I do so appreciate you noticing how much we give. We plan to keep doing it, so it’s great to know when others are grateful for it! š
And, of course, the motherhood part IS new, which has probably changed me in ways that even I haven’t noticed.
cheers
Heather
This can become complicated but in its simpliest terms; you can’t fix a problem using the same ingridents that started it.
If you start a fire with gas you will just feed that fire with more gas.
Part of the reason for the financial meltdown was that government backed and encouraged bad loans to artifically create a housing boom. The government took away risk from the lending instutions. I’ve also read that what we’ve see so far is just the tip of the iceberg.
The government is part of the problem and certainly not an active part of the solution.
Both parties and presidents since Johnson’s “Great Society,” have been part and parcel to this mess.
Here’s something nobody seems to grasp;” Without private property rights there is no liberty.”
I maybe under a moral responsibility to others but governments cross the line to impose a legal one.
All I see in Washington is more of the same that got us here…and quite possibly worse.
I really do hope I’m wrong.
-Lyn