Well, yes, we do. We each need to do something, (probably many things!) but each one of us must be sure that what we do is not the WRONG thing. We need to recognize that it was the abandonment of the world of ideas to the statists that has led us to this pass, and we must now retake the philosophical ground that was abandoned early in the twentieth century. We must, each one of us, if we are to stand and not yield even unto death, understand the values that we defend, and we must understand why any compromise of those values, of the basic principles of freedom, is the kiss of evil which corrupts and destroys all who accept it. It is in this understanding that you will gain the strength you will need to stand up for the Light.
Those who stand for the Light stand for the Rights of Man; life, liberty and property. Freedom of speech, freedom of association, freedom of religion or it's absence. Freedom to be left alone. Real equality of opportunity, not equality of outcome. Those are some of the values that I stand for, am willing to kill for, and if needs be to die for. Without the means to defend these values, my resistance means little, which is why I shall remain an uncompromising advocate for the right of free people to own and carry weapons.
Those who oppose us say that they stand for the rights of the collective, for equality of outcome, but what history teaches is that this is a blind, a con, a cover for the idea that most of humanity must be ruled by an elite. After all, somebody has to run things, they say. (Really? I do pretty well on my own, thank you!) The conflict is between individual rights and no rights, between a civilized society and barbarous tribal savagery, between free trade and freeloading, between the recognition of and respect for values and the denial that values exist. Between makers and takers. This conflict of ideas is an old, old war; it dates to Aristotle and beyond, back into the mists of time, and we fight yet another battle in that war now.
I could not possibly summarize the history of philosophy in any reasonable time even if I were competent enough or foolish enough to attempt it, but I can commend to your attention two books which I think most people who come here will find of great value in the days that lie ahead: "Philosophy, Who needs it?" by Ayn Rand, and "the Ominous Parallels" by Leonard Peikoff, Rand's heir. The first book is an answer to the question posed by the title, and the second is a brilliant exposition of how we have gotten into the mess we are in.
I doubt that any of you, gentle readers, would dream of walking towards a battle, riding toward the sounds of gunfire, without having good weapons and plenty of ammunition. Nor should you walk into the middle of this war of ideas without weapons and ammunition fit for the purpose. If we win the war of ideas, we cannot lose the other war, regardless of the odds we face on the ground. Conversely, if we lose the war of ideas, no matter how well we shoot, or how many we are, we will be doomed to repeat this battle over and over again, just as we are doing now. Load your moral magazines now.
Ideological marksmanship 101- Ask yourselves these questions:
"What is the purpose of government?"
"Where does the government derive its power?"
"If my government fails of its purpose, and abuses its power, what should I do about it?"
And yes, this WILL be on your test. There will be NO curve; pass/fail.
Good luck to all of you who serve the Light.
Historian