| We are masters of self-indulgence, and slaves | | | | growing culture of self-interest. |
| of self-interest. Quite the contradiction: | | | | |
| but quite the truth. For the most part, we | | | | Staunch self-interest usually dictates that |
| Americans - seem to have changed the | | | | "I" matter more than anyone else |
| definition of personal freedom to a | | | | around "me," including all of |
| constitutional battering ram. | | | | "my" thoughts, opinions, desires, |
| | | | and beliefs. |
| We're enslaved by foods, lifestyles, and | | | | |
| fetishes, to name a few. | | | | How could this type of existence ever be |
| | | | right? More and more we are becoming |
| Whatever controls us is our master, and we | | | | spellbound by and acclimated to our own |
| are its slaves. | | | | self-indulgence and exaggerated sense of |
| | | | importance. |
| Recently a young man on a high school campus | | | | |
| stood outside of the school with his friends | | | | Where do we find permanent solutions when we |
| displaying a sign which read "Bong hits | | | | are both master and slave of our own |
| 4 Jesus," an apparent reference to and | | | | condition? |
| support of marijuana usage. | | | | |
| | | | What about the Californian slaves who are |
| The teenager was ordered to cease displaying | | | | crying foul every time their personal and |
| the sign, to which he responded by filing for | | | | private enjoyment of cigarette smoking is |
| certiorari to the U.S. Supreme Court citing a | | | | limited to something more personal and |
| violation of his First Amendment right to | | | | private? |
| free speech. | | | | |
| | | | Am I expected to give up my right to breathe |
| What drivel! | | | | air free of dried, nicotine rich, burning |
| | | | tobacco leaves, to make way for the slave who |
| Why does every Tom, Dick, and Jane believe | | | | believes his personal enjoyment trumps my |
| that they have a personal right and personal | | | | personal health? |
| "freedom" to impose their | | | | |
| subjective views on everyone else? It's | | | | |
| simple. They're slaves, and slaves do: what | | | | |
| they're told to do. | | | | By the way, in case none of the slaves have |
| | | | looked it up, nicotine is a poisonous |
| If the only voice of "reason" we | | | | alkaloid that is the chief active principle |
| listen to is our own voice we are bound to | | | | of tobacco and is used as an insecticide. |
| begin believing that anything we say or do in | | | | |
| public is acceptable solely on the basis of | | | | Sure...I'll just move right on over for you. |
| that personal belief and hubris. | | | | |
| | | | True liberty takes into account the masses, |
| Why couldn't the young man express and | | | | and not just self. |
| discuss those particular sentiments in a | | | | |
| private setting and proper forum? Frankly, he | | | | There's a time and place for everything. But |
| did what he did because he couldn't help | | | | as long as we remain enslaved by |
| himself. | | | | self-interest, the time and place for |
| | | | everything will be perpetually here and now. |
| He, like many others, is a slave to our | | | | |