What will you tell your children when the long dark night of state tyranny descends
upon America? Will you tell them the truth? Or will you pretend to them that you did not
know?
You have allowed yourself to be fooled for many years. That is why America is in the
political, religious, moral, and social decay it is in. It was easier for you to watch
television than to bring the POW's home from Vietnam. It was easier to attend sporting
events then to replace your corrupt congressmen or president with an honest one. It was
easier to vote for the lesser of two evils or not at all rather than to work for those who
you were told did not have a chance of winning. It was easier for you to be politically
correct, jeer, and make sarcastic comments about "patriots," gun owners,"
and "religious right wingers" than to join with fellow countryman who were
concerned about your homeland. It was easier to believe lies than to search out the truth.
Because you have taken the easy way out, life will not be easy henceforward, not for you,
your children, and those you have made fun of.
You have betrayed not only your countrymen, but the past, present, and future. Your
ancestors passed on to you the sacred torch of liberty. You personally, by inaction, have
allowed it to be almost extinguished. The present moment, this brief time you were given
here on earth, was your moment, your chance to give meaning to your life, to make a
difference, to leave this earth a better place than you had found it. Instead, the future
you have bequeathed to your children, will be because of your complacence and inaction, an
ugly one of little happiness, safety, and freedom. All of this so you could take the easy
way out.
It was easier for you, oh weak man, to do nothing rather than to do anything. You thereby
leave your children nothing of value. Nothing lasting. You bequeath to them a hollow
existence, the toy of tyrants, the slave of evil men. What will you tell your children?
Future generations shall curse your name, your grave, and your memory. But worse yet, what will you tell your children when they ask you why the long dark night has descended upon them?
Louis Beam 1994
