A BROTHERHOOD AGAINST TOTALITARIAN ENACTMENTS-whats that???
BROTHERHOOD: The quality or state of being brothers: Fellowship/Alliance: an association for a particular purpose.
FELLOWSHIP: A community of interest, activity or Experience: The quality or state of being comradely.
ALLIANCE: Alliance: a bond or connection between families, states, parties, or individuals: an association to further the common interests of the members;
EXPERIENCE: direct observation of or participation in events as a basis of knowledge: the conscious events that make up an individual life: the events that make up the conscious past of a community or nation or humankind generally: something personally encountered, undergone, or lived through: the act or process of directly perceiving events or reality
As one can see the concept of BROTHERHOOD is more complex than just saying, “we are a brotherhood”. Note the words, “The state of being Brothers, community of interest, activity, experience”. A bond between families and/or individuals. An association to further the common interest of it's MEMBERS. Throughout history there have been “Brotherhoods” united by a common cause or interest. Many of them military, religiously or politically based. Some have had to keep there existence secret to avoid persecution and still exist today. The existence of others is known, but the inner workings are secret and you must be proven before you will ever learn them. Others are public and open to any with a common interest and experience. All of any consequence have a commonality, the quality or state of being comradely ( a fellow soldier).
Why is the “state of being comradely” mentioned in these definitions of BROTHERHOOD. Why are many “Brotherhoods” extremely protective of their “order”. A soldier knows that he/she is putting their life on the line for a cause. The soldier also knows that in battle he/she must be able to rely on his brother for his life and over time, through the experience of going through the fire together, a bond develops and he in turn will give his life for his brother.
If his cause is just, even though lost, he will stand by his brother. He may argue with, or fight with his brother. But due to shared experience he will stand by him. That bond is not easily broken. Betrayal of the “cause” can destroy such a bond and has it's own consequences. Good or bad, “commitment” to the “cause/purpose” determines the fate of the “brotherhood.” It is not sufficient to only declare “brotherhood”.
This does not refer to the upper echelon who have not experienced the battle, grown battle weary, been out of the trenches to long or traded the fight for the security and privilege of rank. They are safe in their cubicles, glad for it and busy polishing old glories. They at times, in the name of negotiation, establish bonds with the enemy whom they use to fight and risk “identifying” with their kidnappers (Stockholm syndrome?).
Extrapolate and bring this concept to the civilian world. Two men work partners on high steel. One wrong step by either of them can kill one or both. They spend more time together on the job than they do with their wives or children. They share problems with each other, they drink together, they depend upon each other, they know each other, they have bonded and become more than partners. They are brothers. They have tested each other and passed.
Every company of soldiers, crew of construction workers will look warily at a new addition. There will be an initiation of some sort, a period of time where the person is tested. This may be a formal initiation or just a period of time whereby the group can take the measure of a man to determine whether or not you will trust him with your life.
“Brotherhoods” by virtue of definition are not immune to the dysfunctions that affect other organizations and/or families. Imagine if you will a family of members (or any entity) frozen at a particular point in time. So concerned with perpetuating it's own day to day existence it rejects new blood, new ideas, new risks, perceiving them to be threats.. Becomes insular in order to protect itself and in so doing stagnates and becomes even more vulnerable to that which it was born to do (create, achieve and grow) until it is finally assimilated and diluted to the extent that it becomes a mirror image of that which it formed to defend against. A consortium of psychologists who have become as dysfunctional as their clients if you will.
Today the word doesn't have the same meaning as it did in the past. How often do you here the word “BRO” thrown around as easily as “HELLO”? How many times have you been called “Bro” by a person you barely know? Will you give that person the shirt off your back? Bail them out of jail? Let them sleep on your couch as long as they need to? Those who truly understand the meaning of the word would, and take offense at being called bro by those who are not.
Sadly, in a time of personal agenda's, “it's an all about me” society and greed, many will never experience the true meaning of the word. Sadly, in today's world, many would not even know how. How much would you give to be a part of a “Brotherhood”. Because that's what it is about, giving of yourself to achieve a greater cause. COMMITMENT to a cause greater than oneself. Doing what needs to be done when you would much rather be doing something “FUN”, because you know it should be done, needs to be done, has to be done and you have to do it. Why do YOU have to do it? Because if YOU don't who will?
TOTALITARIAN: “of or relating to a political regime based on subordination of the individual to the state and strict control of all aspects of the life and productive capacity of the nation especially by coercive measures.” This definition refers to the “nation”. A nation can be a political entity a group or aggregation of commonalities. The commonalities of individuals born into an already established “totalitarian” nation is “subservience”. The problem, an individual born into a totalitarian regime concepts of freedom may be “free only to serve as directed.” Even in a “free” country an individual can, through circumstances other than their own choosing, be subjected to the totalitarianism of economies in an effort to insure survival.
ENACTMENTS: “Something (as in a law) that has been Enacted” ENACT: “to establish by legal and (note: There is no “or” in this definition) authoritative act.”
Is there anyone that can argue that totalitarianism is not running rampant in America. Is it not rapidly creeping up on us in the guise of political correctness, national and social security. Are not more of our collective individual resources and energies being taken from us and allocated to bureaucracies many of which we can not even name or question to where and how those (my) resources are being utilized. And where are there people that care? I mean really care? Where is the outrage? Where is the spirit of the founders of this country who said enough is enough, put down their plows, picked up there rifles, left their homes, slogged through snow and ice in cloth wrapped feet because they had to eat the leather of their shoes to throw of the chains of bondage so that you might suffer from the illusion that today you are free?
After 9-11 this country came together. It didn't last long, as we all got back to the business of “taking care of ourselves”. In the process of taking care of ourselves however many may not have noticed how busy those inclined to establish totalitarian enactments have become. Using 9-11 as an excuse?
During Katrina we watched on TV the ineptitude of our government and the corruption of those who were “sworn to serve and protect” and it continues to this day. Over a year later! The greatest Country in the world has managed to misappropriate, misplace or just leave rotting in the field of an Arkansas air field our collective individual resources and turned their backs while the robber baron insurance companies collect interest on what they have stolen.
Who really represents you and I?
There was a man I knew, a real man, who by most standards had a good life. He was faithful, gave to those who were in need and was always available to help. Through no fault of his own things went south on him. He said to me once, “I never thought I would ever be on this side of things”. Who does? Life takes it's twists and turns. If it happens to you will you look to the government to bail you out. Remember Katrina? Pray that you have a real Brother!
The dynamics of any group are such that as it grows it will change. It is the nature of things. Some will go from group to group looking for one that will meet their needs. A “Brother” will ask, “how can you and I work together to insure we can meet each others needs without screwing each other over?”
Will individuals screw up? Of course. That is the nature of things. Once while tying steel a carpenter ran out of nails while putting up braces we used to walk on. He shoved the brace in place and without telling anyone went to get more nails. I stepped on the brace and found myself laying on my back looking 30 feet up to where I used to be. He made a mistake. I hold no malice against him. It damn sure hurt though. United we Stand, Divided we fall.
Next time someone asks, what does ABATE “A Brotherhood Against Totalitarian Enactments” stand for? Think about it.
"I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country. . . . corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until all wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed." – Abraham Lincoln
