I actually wasn’t going to make the ‘endnote’ a posting to the short story, I was just going to leave it in the PDF book. However, I later Thursday I felt that I should go ahead and post it. Here you go…
Author’s Endnote
This was an odd story for me to write. In the story’s “Introduction” I shared ‘how’ my writing the story came to be, I still don’t entirely know the ‘why’ part of writing it. The story seemed somewhat out of character for me, especially so when you consider my previous stories and books.
I believe that the United States has entered a very new phase of its existence, quite possibly its last. We had the birth phase pre-1790. That was truly an amazing miracle of history in every aspect. A rag-tag bunch of farmers, business men, tradesmen, and explorers…along with some very brilliant minds…banded together and defeated the most powerful military in world and overcame oppressive tyranny and heavy taxation imposed by the strongest country in the world. And did so with principles that politically changed the world.
The next phase lasted until 1860…the growth phase. This time period saw a young country grow, expand, and find its place in the world. A force to be reckoned with, once again defeating that same powerful tyrannical country and soundly defeating its immense professional military. The awe inspiring geographical vastness of our country began to truly impress itself upon us along with its potential.
Starting in 1890 the United States saw the implementation both of good and evil. Universities and colleges came into being, but the US Army massacred hundreds of Native American men, women, children, and infants at Wounded Knee…a ‘battle’ it wasn’t, a merciless slaughter it was. Industry flourished, inventions were plentiful, and the population was growing significantly. In 1892 the “Pledge of Allegiance” came into being…originating from a flag manufacturer that wanted to sell more flags to schools. The pledge itself written by a man who was a socialist, a racist, and an advocated for a powerful authoritarian federal government. Movies were invented, unions began their rise to power, cars came into existence, the Gold Rush began, 1898 was the beginning of the militarization and expansionism of the United States, and the Anheuser-Busch brewery company was established. But all of this was just the precursor for that phase’s evils that earnestly began in 1910.
Starting in 1910 we saw the part of that phase that ushered in the birth of the authoritarian federal government (i.e. police state) of the United States. The beginning of the destruction of state’s rights, the legalization of the government forcibly taking people’s hard-earned income, the US joining a world war that wasn’t ours to fight, the creation of the FBI, the Federal Reserve, the first step in destroying the 2nd Amendment, and so much more evil. This phase lasted through to the beginning of the Cold War after World War II. We also saw the election of the first socialist President.
In the post-WWII phase we saw the creation of the oppressive police state tools such as the CIA, ATF, and DEA. We saw the US dollar taken off the gold-standard and its downward value spiral, the US facilitating the rise of Communist China, our loss in the Vietnam & Korean Wars, and world-wide military expansionism of the US. We also saw the election of a CIA operative as President.
The 2000’s phase we saw the refinement of the police & surveillance state and the lock-down of freedoms in the US. We saw the elimination of personal privacy and two wars that we lost. And the complete polarization of the US electorate and an illegal immigrant invasion by the 10’s of millions. We also saw not only the election of the first Marxist as President but another who demonstrated that he was clearly authoritarian.
And that is where we are today.
Now, don’t get yourself all worked up, I know there were some amazing things accomplished along the way. The US finally abandoned slavery, women got the right to vote, and the medical advancements were nothing short of miraculous. The Civil Rights Movement, though long overdue, started the correction of some major societal ills. The US played a major role in the defeat of Nazi Germany, and we saw the fall of Communism in the Soviet Union. And yes, much more in the spirit of positive events.
And it really isn’t the negative/evil events that took place that is the point…it is all of them collectively in succession. You see we got where we are today in the US not by a single major event, or two or three…but by a long string of major and minor events spread out over the span of 135 years. Those events collectively changed the federal government to be an all-powerful authoritarian entity vs a restricted and limited federal government designed by the Founders and legally documented in the US Constitution. Those collective events virtually eliminated many of the rights outlined and protected by the US Bill of Rights. The events brought us to the point where personal privacy is virtually unknown in today’s world. The events made it possible for over half the of citizens of the US to pay no income tax (i.e. live on welfare)…as is also case with the super-rich…while the middle-class and lower upper-class pay the bills. And all levels of government now collectively claim the right to, and forcefully collect, an average of nearly half of all wages earned by middle-class US citizens. And the same middle-class has been dramatically shrinking over the last 55 years.
How did this happen? Slowly, one step at a time, sold to us by unscrupulous and corrupt politicians (both parties) and corporations over the course of the last 135 years.
What does this have to do with my short story “Message & Warning”? Everything. You see, in the story the US federal government just took the next step that is inevitable. It is the trajectory that the government is on in today’s world. Ask yourself…Based on where we are in today’s world here in the US, and the trajectory of our last 135 year history, what is the next logical step for the government?
And don’t fool yourself with short-term anythings. The US is on a trajectory that will not, cannot, be stopped. No one with enough power will, or has any desire to, stop the natural progression the US is on. Granted, there are some who believe that a civil war or another armed revolution can right this ship. No, neither option can. Either would produce a horrific disaster of immense proportions…the likes we can hardly even imagine. And in all reality, either course of action will simply expedite the accomplishment of their ultimate goal…a totalitarian state.
The short story I wrote was to show an alternative. Romans 12:21 “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Here is the issue for many…they don’t believe in God or they we don’t have enough faith. Try this…if there is a God, then Jesus came to earth, and the messages of the Bible’s New Testament are true, therefore the message in Romans 12:21 is true.
Please consider the option of fighting evil with good.
Don’t misconstrue the meaning or misunderstand the message of which I speak. I am not saying lie down and allow yourself to be abused. I am not saying not to defend yourself. I am not saying that the 2nd Amendment is null and void. I am not saying that self-defense is not a natural God-given right. And I am not saying the Bible is incorrect when it tells us to defend our families. And trust-me, I am not saying our Founders did the wrong thing by beating tyranny and oppression with force of arms.
What I am saying…at this point in time, in this phase of US history, with this national situation we find ourselves in…will violence solve the problems of society and government?
I believe in God, I believe in His Son Jesus Christ, I believe in the Plan of Salvation through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, I believe in heaven…I believe. And since I do, I also believe that if I choose the right it will be better for me in the long run…whatever that ‘long run’ may be and how it plays out.
As I now see it, my short story was to create a dialog within ourselves. To listen to our heart, to reflect on our beliefs and faith, to consider a more heavenly, more Celestial option. An alternative course of action that might be more in keeping with the teachings of Jesus Christ…and therefore ultimately successful in the end.
As a believer I have faith there is a life to come after this brief, momentary blip of life on earth. My choices here on earth matter…somehow, someway. May each of us search our hearts and souls to find the answer for ourselves what those choices are and then the strength to carry them out. Please find the message meant for you.
Chapters –
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