This is an extremely important issue, John, and we must not react quickly without ample thought.
I have always known that, sooner or later, some of our members (in and out of the Hall of Honor) would be objectionable to someone. In preparation for this eventuality, I concluded that we would adhere to what we say in our Code of Conduct, which is that we welcome anyone who supports The Creed of Freedom, regardless of their religion, race, age, gender, economic status, or life style. Once we break that rule, we will be lost to never-ending quibbles regarding who should be allowed in and who should be expelled.
Like you, I am shocked that one of our members has joined a church that advocates smoking Pot – just as some American Indians used to smoke Peyote to achieve a religious experience, but we placed him in the Hall of Honor because, long before we knew anything about that, he built a substantial sound-money movement and provided leadership to a large number of people. I am shocked at the foul language and short temper of another member of the Hall of Honor; but, once again, he was selected because of his activism and proven leadership. We have other members who have personal views well outside the mainstream. Yet, all this is evidence that we really mean what we say in The Code of Conduct. We are not trying to build a network of people who are in agreement with each other on all issues, only the issue of freedom. The sole purpose of the Hall of Honor is to showcase members who have built a substantial following and, by so doing, have become examples of the leadership role advocated by Freedom Force.
The presence of all these people in the Hall of Honor has been an asset, because it shows at a glance more than a thousand words can say about the diversity of our freedom network. We should not feel embarrassed by it. It is one of our greatest assets. Those who refrain from joining with us because they are offended that one of our members smokes Pot or another one uses foul language or another believes in UFOs or another belongs to a church that is different from theirs, do not yet understand the wisdom of our Code of Conduct and they are not ready for membership.
They have no problem belonging to a political party with lots of strange people who do not share their mores or life style; they have no problem working for an employer who may have some very weird personal views; they have no problem accepting family members who are off the deep end on social values; they have no problem belonging to a church even though the pastor and many in the congregation do not share their political views.
If they were on the battlefield fighting for their lives and their country, they would never turn to their fellow soldiers and say, I will not accept your help because I do not approve of your ideas and habits; yet, they refrain from joining with us in our battle for liberty because one or two members "set off the kook alarm."
Most people, of course, easily overcome that mental block once they think it through, and it is for them that this analysis is being written. Those who cannot would be poison to us anyway, because they would clamor for conformity and be toxic to our movement. I hate to lose anyone from our ranks; but, in the long run, we are better off without them.
Thanks, John, for your concern. And, by the way, don’t worry about someone rejecting Freedom Force. I have become used to that. It serves to remind me how people have been programmed into irrational thought patterns, and it reinforces my resolve eventually to reach them with facts and logic. I have found that, in time, many of them will see the light. As the old saying goes, you can’t win them all, but it is well worth trying.
JOHN'S RESPONSE:
Ed, I thank you for your sage comments on the “kook detector” issue. I went back and read The Code of Conduct, and now I am better for the reminder. Boy, Ed, you thought of everything! All-in-all, the whole thing was a learning experience. Thank you.
May the Force of Freedom be With You,
RESPONSE FROM MEMBERS:
Very well spoken Mr. Griffin, very well! We should NEVER forget the Creed. The day we do I will leave this outfit too, as I have many others.
Freedom force is a sound and steady fast force that I am becoming more and more intellectually and emotionally involved in because of the few and basic principles that guide the movement.
To avoid this confusion in the future, perhaps the answer that you provided here should be placed directly in the Hall of Honor. Also perhaps you could emphasis that the award was given to that person for a specific thing at a specific moment in time, not as a lifetime award giving Cart Blanche "freedom force support" for the rest of one's life.
No one except the individual could be responsible for his or her actions. That's the whole point.
What worries me is that we have members who even ask about a thing like this. They should know better, I think. The member who raised this issue should have been able to tell his friend right away how we who support this movement look at these things. It's a good thing though that you could help him understand.
Regards,
Fredrik
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