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George Hanson: They're not scared of you. They're scared of what you represent to 'em.
Billy: Hey, man. All we represent to them, man, is somebody who needs a haircut.
George Hanson: Oh, no. What you represent to them is freedom.
Billy: What the hell is wrong with freedom? That's what it's all about.
George Hanson: Oh, yeah, that's right. That's what's it's all about, all right. But talkin' about it and bein' it, that's two different things. I mean, it's real hard to be free when you are bought and sold in the marketplace. Of course, don't ever tell anybody that they're not free, 'cause then they're gonna get real busy killin' and maimin' to prove to you that they are. Oh, yeah, they're gonna talk to you, and talk to you, and talk to you about individual freedom. But they see a free individual, it's gonna scare 'em. www.imdb.com...
But those who's egos and self worth is defined by the false empowerment of secret keeping, for the most part know and are aware of their disingenuous existence, mostly because knowing the secrets is to know that the secrets they are keeping are trivial and worthless. Hence their participation is willful and in full knowledge of the part they play and meaninglessness of their self identification. That is why they are often vicious, that is why they are small, that is why they are bitter, that is why they live in fear of discovery, and that is why their egos are violent and cruel. It surely has to be a misery to go through life that way, not to mention pitiful.
Most importantly this is why they harbor the greatest resentment to those who expose them through indifference. For an ego built upon a house of lies is by nature fragile, volatile, and vulnerable. And it sure as hell doesn't like the mirror of truth shining upon it. For it is in permanent panic of being discovered for the emptiness it is founded upon. I have seen this panic manifest, it isn't pretty, for it will lash out indiscriminately and scorch the earth around it, including attacking those in its own little group, to protect and sustain itself. There's a great deal of time and effort invested in living an egoic life, as in the above quoted dialogue from Easy Rider, may the universe help anyone who inadvertently or purposefully orients that light onto another's "precious."
In our family, family comes before outsiders and some family are only tolerated because they married into the family. There are rules within the family, and I believe that they are based on Christian values, morals, laws, and common sense. If someone within the family is involved in illegal actions it is NOT the place of the family to keep that person from the consequences of their actions, even by deceit or omission.
My personal belief is that God has a plan for all of us and His Will will be done. If I continue to step in and keep the person from their consequences, they will not learn the lesson God has for them, and if it is something bad I am only prolonging the suffering because it will happen to them again and again. An example is the person who is of legal age to drink and repeatedly drinks in public or drives, while drunk. If those who love them go and bail them out each time, help them pay their fines, and blame the LEO's for picking on them due to age, race, or whatever, then the person who is doing the wrong may never see a reason to change their actions.
I understand what you are saying, however I can think of some instances where I would walk away. Whether it lasted forever would be up to them though. Who I am now is the product of my life experiences and it is possible to hang on to a relationship that is not healthy or good for either person. It is also possible that after a while it would become toxic.
A brother who lives his life in total misery, making others miserable along with him. Everything is done "against" him and never a product of his own making. There was an intervention, followed by stays in treatment centers more than once. People would forgive him, but he could not forgive himself. Eventually he was alone, with only Mom going by to check on him, to make sure he has eaten. He wants to be better, but can't because he is addicted to alcohol and can't break free. One day Mom calls and says "we need you now, he is unresponsive and we can't lift him". I go and get him up and into moms car as we head to the hospital. They had to burn his clothes because they were so soiled, but I had not noticed, all I saw was my brother who needed my help. He lived for two weeks and I would go and talk to him about God and forgiveness even when I thought he could not hear me.
See I did not leave him, he walked away and I just could not follow him into that madness. When the time came that he needed me though, I was there. This was a brother, but I do not think that it would be different if it was my child. Sometimes you have to let them go.
“We dance round in a ring and suppose, while the secret sits in the middle and knows."
-Robert Frost
Esoteric Schools would cease to be worthy of their name were their literature and doctrines to become the property of even their profane co-religionists—still less of the Western public. This is simple common sense and logic. Nevertheless this is a fact which our Orientalists have ever refused to recognize.
Originally posted by bigfatfurrytexan
reply to post by chaosinorder
One more quick example: how many stories do we hear of scientists who make a discovery, only to end up dead? The most groundbreaking discoveries best be kept to yourself, unless you want to commit suicide, too.
[edit on 23-6-2010 by bigfatfurrytexan]