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