It Is As You Will (standard:other, 1922 words)
Author: J. P. St. Julian	Added: Nov 03 2024	Views/Reads: 54/12	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
Sometimes we are manipulated by others because we don't take the time to look beneath the surface of what is presented to us.

It Is As We Will It To Be 

These days, we hear so much complaining about the government, politics,
corporate greed, legalized abortion, the environment, and myriad other 
social and secret evils in this country. But no one seems to stop and 
ponder why there are problems with all these institutions and why our 
liberties and freedoms are being eroded. This country was formed well 
over 248 years ago on the promise that it was for the people, of the 
people, and by the people. That being the case, and if the people are 
genuinely the ones who dictate what will be, why do we have all these 
problems plaguing the people? If the people are the ones who say how it 
will be, why would they let things get this far? 

When I was in my late twenties, attending college in the military, my
political science professor told the class a story one day. I'd like to 
tell you that story as he told us, as it fits this line of discussion. 
It was in a political science class given by an instructor at the 
Georgia Military College. The class was about the formation of a 
Republic and what it entails. Here goes: 

An old hermit lived in a small village nestled in the mountains of
Virginia. He was a wise old man, endowed with a rare insight that some 
men seem to possess. His wisdom, acquired through a deep connection 
with nature and the God of heaven, guided the villagers, who held him 
in high esteem. 

The people in the village generally respected the old wise man, and even
some of the brightest people around sometimes sought his counsel on 
things dealing with life. But there are always a few people who can't 
seem to help getting up to mischief. Several young boys in the village 
laughed at the old patriarch and rudely pointed at him as they passed 
by. One day, one of the boys said to the others, “Everybody thinks he's 
so wise, but I know how we can fool him. I'll take a bird in my hand, 
hold it so it can only be seen by peeking through my fingers, and ask 
the old man if he can tell me what it is.” 

“How can that fool him?” asked one other boy, “Surely, he will know it's
a bird!” 

“Yes, of course, he will know,” said the first boy, “but when he
answers, I'll ask him, ‘Is it dead or alive?'” 

The other boy frowned and said, “How will that fool him? You're not
making any sense.” 

Then the first boy said, “It's simple. If he guesses it'd dead, I will
open my hands and let the bird fly away. If he says it's alive, then I 
will crush it.” 

After having a laugh, they set off to find the old man. They did find
him sitting at the door of his little hut. The boys walked up to the 
man rather arrogantly. 

“Old man,” said the first boy, “I have a question. What is in my hand?”
he asked as he pushed his hand forward, with fingers spread. “Well, my 
son, it looks like a bird you have caught,” said the old man. 

“That's right,” said the boy. “Now, is it alive or dead?” 

The old man fixed a disappointing gaze on the boy for a long moment,
then said, “The fate of this small bird is, as you will have it, my 
son. It is as you will have it.” 

That is sort of an allegorical likeness of where we are today with the
current political situation in the United States (2024). Just as in the 
story, I submit that the fate of the United States of America is in the 
hands of its voting populace. . or, as we would have it. The great 
eagle of individual liberty was captured long ago and placed in our 
hands. Too many of us have milked it for all it's worth for the 
freedoms we enjoy to satisfy personal greed and lusts (especially the 
one percenters) and have not taken responsibility for those freedoms. 
Now, it is as we will. We can go to the polls on November 5th, 2024, 
and declare in a loud voice for Democracy, or we can let the divisive 
persuasions, buffoonery, and manipulations of the MAGA Republicans 
choose authoritarianism. We can crush the country to death, or starve 


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