Live Not By Lies
If you are feeling dismayed and confused by conflicting news stories and a growing distrust of media, government, and corporations, there’s a reason why. This is part of the play book of ‘soft totalitarianism’.
Not too far off the totalitarian tactics of the past, this time the utopian vision being pushed uses “social justice”, “health & safety” and “environmentalism”. It distorts language, history, science and basic American cultural norms. It’s reminding a lot of people—especially immigrants—of the way totalitarianism took hold in the Soviet Union. One recent immigrant said, “I was born and raised in the Soviet Union, and I’m frankly stunned by how similar some of these developments are to the way Soviet propaganda operated.”
In case you’re still wondering, you’re not crazy. And this is is not a conspiracy theory. Know how propaganda works and how we can change this story.
In “Live Not By Lies”, Rod Dreher warns we cannot hope to resist the coming soft totalitarianism if we do not have our spiritual lives in order. The answer will take courage and a total commitment to following Truth. Alessandro Solzhenitsyn, the great anti-communist dissident and orthodox Christian, believed ordinary people CAN actually fight back this powerful system: “Our way must be: ‘Never knowingly support lies!’”
As Dreher explains, “The foundation of totalitarianism is an ideology made of lies. The system depends for its existence on a people’s fear of challenging the lies....
You may not have the strength to stand up in public and say what you really believe, but you can at least refuse to affirm what you do not believe.”
We have the tools right now to say NO and DECIDE to live in the dignity of truth. Speak up! If we must live under the dictatorship of lies, Solzhenitsyn said, then our response must be: “Let their rule hold not through me!”
Arizona Women of Action, you have the TRUTH on your side. This week, will you carry this powerful and beautiful shield with you? Speaking the truth--especially out of a heart of love--will shine the light and advance freedom where ever you go.