You have now had a solid week to stare at the wall in depression over the horrible reality that you now live and will continue to live for the foreseeable future. Or perhaps you looked to see if happiness was there at the bottom of a bag of chips? A Netflix “binge”?

     Now that you have got the mourning out of your system, let’s talk about our next move.  I have spent a good amount of time listening to and weighing the potential approaches for how to operate in this brave new 1984 CCP-esque technocratic age of persecution. I think there are two extremes we must avoid. One is the extreme that we need to DO SOMETHING BIG AND BOLD RIGHT NOW! Unfortunately we severely lack the leadership or the plans necessary to purely choose this route. We have to take the setbacks that have come our way quite seriously. We must be wise and tempered in a courageous and disciplined response to our current state of affairs.

     Honestly, though, I feel like the sentiment has gone much more strongly the other way since January 6^th. Most people are either a lot quieter at this time or are wearing their despair upon their sleeves. It’s actually quite concerning. In one rant that I recently read from a military veteran, he went as far as to say that a smart man would take down even his American flag at this time in order to keep himself safe. Seems a bit extreme.

     I believe that the current speed admixed with the power of the enemy renders the “be invisible” or “be a gray rock” strategy non-viable. As your neighbor with his Trump flag is interrogated by the DHS for making memes about election fraud, will you stay invisible? I believe Lutheran Minister Martin Niemoller put it best when he said: “...Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.”

     The persecution will come for you regardless of what you do. Be prudent as you exercise courage and stand up for what is right, but understand the fine line between stealth action and passive cowardice.

     Others have shared that they are never going to participate in politics again or that they are totally shutting off paying attention to what is going on around them at this time. It causes them too much anxiety. While I believe ignoring some aspects of politics may indeed be a healthy thing to do right now (particularly the things you cannot affect), totally ignoring or refusing to participate in “politics” is not an option. For one, politics are coming for you. You no longer have to seek engagement in politics. Just wait, you will see as the new national security policy continues to take hold (did you know that the DHS may consider you a DVE?).

     Additionally, I think a slightly different take on what constitutes “politics” may be of help here. The word "Politics" comes from the Greek word "Polis", which means "city". Both Herodotus and Thucydides, Athenian writers of the Persian and Peloponnesian Wars, respectively, made a point to commend the Athenians for the pride they had in taking up their responsibility as citizens to be active members in the work of the city. A man who did nothing to keep relevant on the news of his own city (that which he could actually affect) and do things to aid in the advancement and protection of the common good of the city, was considered a lousy Athenian.

     So what do we do, then? I think Rod Dreher’s Live not by Lies provides a fantastic starting point. There are ways to subvert what is going on that will allow you to keep your dignity, your head, and your faith at a time in which all are either under attack or potentially under attack. Practice your faith, disconnect from the Matrix, and raise up a quality next generation. And this time let’s try to avoid the same mistakes that got us here. If a video game consul is an idol in your home, for God’s sake (literally) please throw it into the nearest fire. Personally, I had not played my own console in over a year, but I enjoyed getting it out just to burn it while singing Irish Folk songs several nights ago with my kids. Pro tip: electronics also make fantastic shooting targets. This next generation HAS to be the generation that becomes hard through these bad times. They must learn how to engage in real dialogue, know how to throw a punch, and be able to fix A LOT of things with their hands. Oh, and when our children are asked what their number one goal in life is, let’s make sure they say, “become a saint!” instead of “become a professional youtuber”.

     Additionally, now is the time to develop the parallel space for us to operate in while developing solidarity with other men and women of good will. Patron the businesses of those who are on the team. Walmart and their cheap Chinese made crap is out. Jeff Bezos, with his quest to literally monopolize the market on every purchasable good in the world, needs to be told to go eat some flowers. Take the leap of faith and don’t look back. If you couldn’t say no to the mask and you aren’t going to say no to the vaccine because you can’t give up the job for your woke capitalist evil giant cooperation, then what else will you give into? You really mean to tell me that you will stand up to the purity tests at work that are coming? When you have to sign that you agree with every bit of the “inclusion” training you received, including the parts that are antithetical to your faith, what will you do? Is the price of apostasy really as low as being able to stay “comfortable” in the coming hell on earth?

     Don’t give in to the beast. I recently spoke with a police officer who, with a deep sense of peace in his expression and his voice, told me that he has no fears of the Covid vaccine becoming mandatory for law enforcement officials. Why not? Because he has made the decision that he would rather lose his job than do something that he feels he cannot do in good conscience. He told me, “I’m an able bodied man. I might have to make some sacrifices, but I’ll make it.” Since hearing that, I have challenged men who are wrestling with their own “vaccine dilemma”. One man recently came back to me and said, “After thinking about it, yes, I am an able bodied man”.

     Are you an able bodied man? What is a pension worth to you? Are you really not ready to give up that 72 inch “smart” TV (I like my devices dumb and people smart), the training bra for the mark of the beast (your smart phone) or the fake robot lady in the black box that you talk to that tells you useless crap and orders a pizza for you (or whatever those God forsaken things do). Oh yeah, and while I’m at it, Teslas are for Californians. Elon Musk is not your friend, either. He’s actually a bit of a trans-humanist weirdo.

     There are literally communities throughout the world who have made parallel spaces and economies within society to resist the sort of persecution that is coming. Do some research on the Hasidic Jews, for example. If you don’t feel like you are ready for it, that’s ok, leave the matrix by detaching one snake like robotic coil that is gripping you at a time. But do something and get on it NOW.

     Finally, do not lose your faith. Rather, your faith and your moral life are two things you have the most control over right now in your life. They are also the biggest threats to our enemy. Grow each of them with fervor.

     You can do it. God and other people of good will can help. As Pope Benedict XVI once said, “The world offers you comfort, but you were not made for comfort, you were made for greatness”. Be sensible, wise, and tempered about it, but bounce back, stay free, and BE COURAGEOUS.

 

God bless,

 

Gadfly