By: Dave Perkins

In the years since I have taken a more active interest in politics and the philosophies of governance, I have learned the value of clarity in thought and word. I now regard clarity as almost a proof of validity of any viewpoint; the more obscured and pedantic one’s expressed philosophy, the more unlikely it is to have any real value. Those whose views do not survive in the bright light of simple moral scrutiny are certain to realize this and to go to some length to prevent the public from clearly understanding what those views are (at least until it’s too late for the public to avoid becoming subject to their dominance). Hence “newspeak” from Orwell; it is for the proponents of a morally unattractive view to disguise the unattractiveness through clever use of the language, now known as “propaganda.”

Last week, I ran across one of those enhanced applications of language. I read a piece in which the writer described another person as a “free thinker.” When I read that phrase, it took me a moment to realize that I had immediately imagined someone with leftist views. Further reading confirmed my initial gut reaction; the writer was indeed praising his “free thinker” friend for his comprehensively leftist world view.

And I had that marvelous moment of clarity. It came when I paused to ask myself, “free from what?” And of course the implication is there; in order to be a free thinker, one must shed the bonds of old, restrictive, traditional thinking.

The use of the word “free” is carefully calculated for this effect. The word has an inherent positive vibe. What feels better than freedom? The subconscious implication is powerful; the opposite of the free thinker is the “unfree thinker” who is somehow restrained in his thoughts, prevented from discovering life’s truths. Held back. Imprisoned in a trap of traditional old thinking he was never permitted to critically examine in his childhood. He learned his “thinking” by rote, by example, through rigid conformity. Those old conclusions aren’t even thinking at all, really; more a matter of just going along to get along. Not to mention, of course, if you are white or otherwise privileged, the old thinking secures certain benefits which are not equally available to all. If you hold western traditional views, then, you are either a victim of irrational societal rigidity or you’re a venal opportunist exploiting an unfair advantage. And there’s no reason one can’t be both.

So goes the leftist understanding of the “free thinker,” that he is blessedly free from the chains of tradition and old knowledge, from his own baser motives and from the dusty bonds of history. He is really thinking, for the first time in his life. His are now higher thoughts, more noble. And of course, because he is thinking freely, he has embraced some sort of Marxism. And environmentalism. And perhaps Islam, or some other faith system chosen because it has no root in traditional Judeo-Christianity (or perhaps because it is founded in ruthless eternal opposition to it). But secular leftism will do.

Because for a free thinker, the only forbidden set of conclusions are the ones that underpin Judeo-Christian western society, exemplified in the documents that founded the United States of America.

All men are created equal — not a guarantee of equality of outcome in life, only of equal treatment before the law. It addresses an eternal problem in human governance; tyrants playing favorites.

Endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights — definitely not including the right to a well paid job, a roof, clothing, food, vacations and family time, all of which entails forcing others to pay for these things, thus violating THEIR rights. Interesting to note, though, that these goodies are included in FDR’s proposed “Second Bill of Rights” which he offered as the next great step forward in American society shortly before his death. A free thinker, that Roosevelt. They are also included in the Soviet Union’s constitution.

That among these are life (the right not to be killed by your government), liberty (the right not to be enslaved by your government) and the pursuit of happiness (the right not to be oppressed by your government, so that you can choose where you go and what you do with your life).

The reason this all ran through my mind upon reading “free thinker” is simple. I was not raised to think any thoughts about anything. My upbringing (like that of many Americans in my generation) was marked by divorce, disinterest, superficiality and a lack of guidance. Everyone, including me, was “phoning it in,” making minimal efforts, marking time. It seems to have been in my nature to generally obey rules and try to please people and for that reason I never got into any serious trouble. I became an adult by winging it and judging my results, and then repeating the behaviors that got good results. In short, I had no idea what constituted traditional western values, and no interest in finding out, until I reached my late twenties and finally got the bug. Conscience nagged, dissatisfaction grew, horizons widened. Who am I? What am I? WHY am I? I am glad I grew into asking these questions, even if I was late to the game.

And, most importantly, I began my great inquiry from scratch. I looked into options, studied value systems, examined faiths. And I can honestly say that I arrived at my very traditional Judeo-Christian western philosophical views by careful and fair thought. FREE thought.

No leftist will ever agree and none will ever call me by this name, but today I claim it; I am a free thinker.