I got into an interesting conversation about a week ago with a former student I taught a couple of years back. I was sitting at one end of the coffee shop while he was sitting by the fire-place reading a fiction thriller drinking his $5.00 coffee. Ironically this former student was quite the challenge for me when I was his teacher. At the time I was teaching health and he had been the only senior in my freshman health class. This wasn’t his first go around and I just knew he had to pass in order to graduate. He was an extremely intelligent teenager that challenged everything. He barely passed my class due to in-completes, absences and missing assignments but squeaked by because he was a great test taker. This student was certainly unforgettable. So when I saw him at the coffee shop reading I was impressed and excited to talk to him. I sat down across from him and just started asking questions; I really wanted to know how he was doing.

He proceeded to tell me that he was currently unemployed and dropped out of college this semester. He was living at home with his parents and just trying to figure out life. I understood to a certain degree how he was feeling as I have been there many times before. I then asked him how long he plans to do this and he proceeded to tell me, “until my unemployment runs out.” He said, “my parents pay for my food, my housing and my cell phone bill and the government pays for my gas and my fun – oh, and this tasty coffee drink.” I shook my head slightly in disappointment. I then asked him if receiving all these handouts ever made him feel guilty or lazy. He of course responded, “guilty? For what? As long as they keep giving, I will keep taking. It won’t be until I actually have to do something that I will. But for now I am content (in my complacency). I can do what I want, when I want with very little effort.” I proceeded to ask, “where did you learn this thinking?” He said without hesitation, “my family, society and the government.”

It was a very frustrating conversation but another reminder of how important it is for we the people to start educating the population about community and freedom. I went to my trunk and handed this former student of mine the best seller by Orrin Woodward and Oliver DeMille titled Leadershift with a business card for a bookmark and encouraged him to read this fiction book instead. I can’t blame him for his naive thinking. He has spent the last 19 years of his life witnessing the results of a nation who has taken freedom for granted and was swept up into the belief system that the government (or someone else) will always have your back.

This conversation inspired me to write this post. I recently found this controversial picture painted by Jon McNaughton titled, “The Forgotten Man.” (video below) The painting depicts all of the American Presidents, both past and present, standing in front of the White House and on a bench in the corner sits a dejected and impoverished man who represents the men and women that the Presidents have ‘forgotten’ in their quest for power.

But the real controversial part of the painting?  Underneath the foot of our current president is the crumpled Constitution of the United States. Now, I’m sure that some of you would object to something so outlandish and over-the-top. But, is the symbolic message of the painting that far off?

Men and women trample and disregard the American Constitution every day as they pursue power and security instead of community and freedom. People forget that this pursuit encourages the design of more programs and initiatives to strengthen the power of the government. There is ample evidence of this when we see overwhelming government expansion, welfare programs, income taxes, the Patriot Act and ObamaCare.

Is freedom worth it? Is the next generation worth it? That’s only for you to decide.

God Bless,

Kristen

Check out the book, Leadershift by Orrin Woodward and Oliver DeMille to begin the process of educating yourself on what you can do to play your part.