Acrostic Poet

I grew up in the 1960's, the last century's era of counterculture, when many people felt that the laws were unjust.

Nevertheless, I (and many of my contemporaries) recognized that law is the thin line between civilization and chaos.

So we protested, but drew the line at rioting. If we broke the law (protesting when it was prohibited, occupying a university building), then we accepted the consequences levied by society (we went to court and accepted society's punishment). Our strength was that we believed so must in the injustice of the particular law that we were willing to sacrifice our own freedom in order to make our voices heard.

That is the key difference between then and now. Today's "protesters" will not accept the consequences of their actions. None stand up to accept punishment meted by society for violating society's rules; they want to break the law with impunity.

It is true that we have laws to protect us from each other. We also have laws (rights) designed to protect us from the government. The power of government has always, throughout history, been the danger. Only in a society that limits government power can citizens exercise any of their freedoms. An all powerful government (such as a dictatorship, or a monarchy or a totalitarian state) is a threat to everyone's freedoms.

There is always a balance between freedom and security. The law protects everyone. That is what makes for a society and peaceful co-existence.Obeying the law is always a choice. Not obeying the law is a risk. Accepting the results is not a choice (or should not be).

One word about history. History and culture are the only things that make us different from each other. I have put forth the idea of mass think, the force that I believe is driving everyone to be the same. I see the latest assault on history as a function of this enormous pressure of the mass to erase all differences among people.

Perosanlly, I like the differences among us. I do celebrate diversity. The mass however is anti-diversity.

One key tool oof totalitarianism is to redefine the meaning of words. Hi**er was a master at this and he duped millions, an entire nation and more, with his techniques.

The current mob (the mass) is similarly trying to re-define values. Saying "no one is above the law" but acting above the law is just such a definition. Saying the mass is for diversity, yet destroying all that makes us diverse, is also a similar phenomenon.

It is the mass (the great number of people alive today) the is fueling and driving this latest upheaval. The mass demands conformity, not diversity.

Our current laws protect diversity, so the mass aims to abolish them and replace them with laws that encourage similarity.

Such a cultural revolution is carried out by cultural revolutionaries who will always break the law to change the law.

Just my humble opinion,

Jon Saul

To All My Friends:
This crisis has quarantined us - so I've published two books!
The Candice Poems is the first volume of some of my acrostic poems and Candice Brearley's artwork. It is available here at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1490441557/ref=sr_1_1…
Only some of Candice's artwork is reproduced in the book. You can see all of Candice's artwork, you can view it all here: http://www.candicebrearley.com
I've also published the first volume of my sci-fi novel Higher Ground, which can be purchased here at Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Higher-Ground-Book-Cr…/…/ref=sr_1_29…
There is also a Kindle edition available.
Here's what I say about the novel: This story is about all of us. You, me, your children and, especially, your grandchildren. We are all here in this story because it is a story about our future, or a possible future.Is it a probable future? That part is up to you, well, up to everyone, really. Each chapter or section boasts of news reports. All that are labeled “present day” are taken straight from the web. You decide their relevance to your life. The story is labeled “tomorrow” and that can mean, literally, tomorrow. Or it could mean an Orwellian 2084 or, if you prefer, 2048, because I am, likewise, painting a picture of how badly things could go for the human race. The Critical Mass Chronicles is the story of a conceivable future that is supported by Critical Mass Think, the new collective mentality that is currently sweeping the globe, recasting human values as is spreads…So, as you read, envision the possibilities, or probabilities, and assess for yourself what you will do when you walk out your door tomorrow…
Pease enjoy! And let me know what you think!!

The Candice Poems: Volume I The Candice Poems, embodies Jon's ardent love for his lady, a demanding taskmaster who requires that reality pervade every line. Fortunately, as a muse and a lover, she is most prolific. Hence, this volume is truly a work of non-fiction.

ROSE, RED

Candice Brearley, Artist

Oil on Canvas 20" x 20"

Original framed: $ 8,000