Fear No Evil

Fear No Evil ... By David Kitchen( http://www.myspace.com/savethesacredsites ) Feb 26, 2012 + "…When crazy people call you crazy, you know you're sane. When evil people call you evil, you know that you are a good person. When lairs call you a liar, you know that you are truthful. Know who you are and don't let others tell you who you are… " - Dave Kitchen As a person with Native American heritage, and who has sometimes been dubbed a conservative, ( ah I've been called Liberal by some who don't know about what old line conservatives are.), I would like to avoid being labeled. However, I know that many people just have to label you. Some individual mindsets are such that they are never completely satisfied unless they are able to put something that they don’t fully understand into a make-believe box, regardless of whether a round peg is mistakenly placed into a square hole, and vise-versa. I think that most people who have Native American ancestry hate labels. What I am is a lover of FREEDOM and whatever that entails. I have a quote for you from Edmund Burke (Edmund Burke … January 12, 1729 – July 9, 1797), who was an Irish political philosopher, Whig politician and statesman who is often regarded as the father of modern conservatism.): "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." I was asking myself the other day why so many people, who appear to be powerful, want my wife and I out of the way. I mean we are powerless old folks in our 60s. My Cherokee wife is recovering from leukemia. I had a serious chemical brain injury and I am still suffering from its effects and other problems due to my aging. We are simply trying to survive. We are not powerful spiritual people, or powerful in the earthly realm. Sure we know a few famous folks who work in human rights; but we hardly ever see them any more. Why is it then that powerful evil people feel they have to destroy us? It is because we stood up to them. One of the major lessons that I have learned in life is that you do not have to stand up to evil by returning violence for violence. As a matter of fact, it is better if you don't. One thing I like that Russel Means says is that: "WE are all 'Indians' now. Welcome to the reservation."As you watch your freedoms going one by one every day, how far do you think evil will go before it stops?Native American people have had this lack of freedom for generations. African Americans, Hispanics, poor whites, gays, Asians, women, Jews, Atheists, even those who struggle for our animal relations and others, all know what it means to struggle for rights. But now average white Joe is becoming one of us. I do not blame Republicans or Democrats. The blame for our demise as a free nation will rest squarely on our shoulders. If you are looking for someone to blame for who took your freedom, "you need only to look in the mirror." "V For Vendetta"http://youtu.be/OGi5slqZH1I Now we have those who are trying to censor the Internet because it has united so many people of diverse backgrounds. My wife thinks they fear an American Spring like the Arab Spring.I love people who stand up for freedom nonviolently. But I do not (repeat do not) advocate the over throw of our government, or it's officials, or any violence done against anyone. Look at what happened to Gabby Gifford. Violence is not the answer. I, myself, am a peaceful person. Like Jesus, Gandhi (who greatly admired Jesus' peaceful way of doing things) Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Mandela, I abhor violence. Speaking up and standing for freedom does not require violence as Jesus, Gandhi, Dr. King and Mandela proved. Yes, they can destroy your flesh; but the spirit of freedom lives on and is inspired by each and every sacrifice made by brave men and women of all groups of people. Look how the deaths of some of those whom I mentioned fueled their movements. What really oppresses people is fear. If you allow fear to rule your life, it is easier to oppress you. So now you're going to say. Dave, you've complained. What is the solution? One word: "Unite”. We should stop fighting amongst ourselves as conservatives, liberals, Christians, Jews, Muslims, gays, and etc. Whatever divisions there are result from “divide and rule machinations”, which is easily set by the arts and crafts of propaganda. It is not hard to hit those that are taking our freedom where it hurts the most, namely, in their pocketbooks (Do I need to give details? Find who is helping to hurt our freedoms and don't buy from them. We may have to buy from them at first; but time will give us alternatives.). Stand in large numbers PEACEFULLY against corrupt power. Smile, treat them nice, pray for them, etc… But tell them they are doing wrong in a very public way. We must be peaceful and fearless in the face of evil. We must never cave into the urge to use physical violence. A Lakota elder once said when the words of Jesus were translated into Lakota for him (something to the effect): "This Jesus would have made a good Lakota man. Too bad his followers don't follow his words."One of my favorite Psalms that somehow I got completely memorized was the 23rd Psalm.1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:he leadeth me beside the still waters. Rev. 7.173 He restoreth my soul:he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:thou anointest my head with oil;my cup runneth over.6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. Even with the shadow of death looming over us (because we all have to die sometime), we fear nothing because we stand for what is right and good about humanity.We do not stand for greed, or hate, or leaving our brothers and sisters to suffer. We stand for honor, truth, justice for all people, and many other worthy and good principles. In a real "Christian" nation as some say that this is, Jesus would have never allowed anyone to be poor, unfed, homeless, or die, because they could not afford medical care. Jesus would never have let a child suffer, or animal, or man, or woman. I have read his book on how he healed, fed and helped people. I have read how his followers in the book of acts shared with all who needed their help and were not greedy. And I remember what Native American Ancestors taught us. The Ancestors teachings are so close to what Jesus taught that in my opinion, Jesus would have made a good Cherokee man, or good man of any nation. But neither Jesus Christ, nor Gandhiji, nor Dr. King, nor Mandela, nor Black Kettle, nor any of our Native American Ancestors, nor any of your Ancestors could have accomplished anything by giving into fear, or for that matter, apathy.Apathy is many times the result of fear. Be strong my brothers and sisters from all ways that you follow. Be brave in your hearts. When you fear, walk on anyway. Even with fear choking in your throat, sing a brave song, recite a brave saying, smile at evil in the face and seek what is good and right for all people to be free. Howa!Dave Kitchen