Freedom Comes from Friction: Why We All Need to Vote

by Jake Mahar

Physics proves friction is a necessity to attain freedom. Whether it is a rocket breaking free of Earth’s gravitational pull, the snap of a 5.56 breaking through the sound barrier, or the stroke of an ink-filled quill across a piece of parchment by 56 delegates 248-years ago, freedom is simply unattainable without friction.

Today, many of our fellow Americans are locked into ideological conflicts across the nation. Some of these unfortunately move beyond verbal and become physical as “the other side” just needs to wholistically acquiesce to “our side” on an infinite range of topics. Gender, political alignment, religion, abortion-rights, foreign policy, domestic aid, border control, disaster relief, gun control, vaccination, income inequality… the list of topics we are fighting over is endless.

And you know something? This is not a good thing… it is a GREAT thing.

That is not a typo.

EMBRACE FRICTION TO ATTAIN FREEDOM

As Americans, we have the ultimate fortune to live in the greatest country in the history of humanity. We are lucky to have the opportunity for these open conflicts, arguments and ideological battles because it means we are FREE. Free to engage with, and against, those we disagree with no matter what because as citizens it is our right to do so. We can walk down Main St dressed in any clothing or identifying as any gender we want and not think twice about being thrown off the top of one of the buildings. Try that in Afghanistan, Iran or any number of other fascist countries and you will learn what friction feels like after reaching terminal velocity when you impact the sidewalk.

Perhaps no greater example of the need for this friction and freedom is the immediate consequences of our withdrawal from Afghanistan. In less than 72-hours, more than 20-years of hard, violent, and emotional work by our soldiers and aid workers was not just unwound but completely obliterated. It was replaced almost instantly by a totalitarian terrorist organization who immediately set to task on assaulting, raping and murdering anyone who dared to have stood with the United States or our message of freedom.

This is the type of world our forefathers and mothers grew up in. They knew, when given the chance, the right to choose for ourselves and cut our own paths as a people was so important to protect it must be enshrined in the Constitution. This group of wildly imperfect individuals, who were seeking to make the world a better place, knew the only way to do so was by empowering the people.

As altruistic as their goals were, though, they did not agree with each other on every single issue. They ideologically battled each other, and at times even came to physical blows, because they were so passionate in their resolve. Yet somehow, someway, the understood real threats to freedom and liberty were of such fatal consequence they could still manage to get the job done TOGETHER. They understood what oppression was because they lived it and fought violently for the opportunity to permanently eliminate it from the world when given the chance to form this country. So, they did.

FACISM HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT

Some loud, albeit moronic, voices have expressed a desire to “shred the Constitution” or unilaterally rewrite some of the amendments to achieve their desired outcome. Whether those voices are trying to force gun control (on the left) or supporting pro-life (on the right), the noise from BOTH sides is equally as vehement. Their arguments tend to circle around it being “for the safety/betterment of everyone” to just go along with it, give up “some” individual liberties, and comply.

Fascist much?

The irony of it all is there are mechanisms in place already that make it possible to amend the Constitution and do everything they want. Unfortunately for them, but fortunately for us, that too requires VOTING. Your vote is the ultimate weapon on the battlefield and they know it, which is why they are seeking any means possible to circumvent that weapon-system. You see the true power of the vote when ballot boxes are being burned in highly contested major metropolitan areas. It is not a terrible tactic, after all burning books and deleting knowledge from a society worked well for Hitler for a while too.

But there are far more insidious, and arguably more dangerous, tactics being used upon all of us from both sides to suppress the vote like Gerrymandering (aka redistricting), voter eligibility manipulation, even direct marketing campaigns targeting the opposition. The last one might be the most dangerous because it is generally using POSITIVE affirmation of the status of their opponents at the poles to give a false sense of confidence to those people. The thought process being if the opposition already thinks they have won, they will not see the need to make an effort to get out there and actually vote, thereby artificially manipulating the turnout and securing victory by default.

WEAPONIZED APATHY

Human history has proven the ultimate threat to our great country is not the direct fighting and arguing and passionate resolve coming from “both sides of the aisle”.  No, the ultimate threat to our way of life is apathy.

Apathy, by definition, cannot contain either friction or resistance. So, by not going out to vote because you believe the outcome is already predetermined, you are actively enhancing the one tool that could destroy our most powerful weapon. If you want proof of the danger of apathy keep learning military and sociopolitical history. Apathy, without question, leads to subjugation. It is a primary weapon-system for those would be oppressors. For them, an enemy or a people who are indifferent or unwilling to resist are easy to conquer and control. But RESISTING subjugation is the bedrock the United States of America is built on.

Apathy, therefore, should never be an option for you, me, us, ours or “theirs”.  And the #1 expression of apathy is a failure to vote. By not voting you are showing the world, and yourself, you are indifferent to what happens to you and those you care for. Not voting is a public expression telling the world you wish to be subjugated and cannot be entrusted to make your own choices. Failing to vote, regardless of if you are in a “blue” or “red” state, is the tipping of the domino that leads those who are on the ballet towards the path of total control they desperately wish for. By the numbers, those in power do not give up that power as though they have “had enough” at some point…they always want more.

VOTING – THE MOST DANGEROUS DEMOCRATIC WEAPON

But by choosing to vote, even if “your team” does not win, does something immeasurably important. It teaches our current and next generation the fundamentals and benefits of resistance, leaning into the friction, and exemplifies the way we keep moving forward as a nation and a people. Voting was the path our forefathers and mothers used as the primary construction tool and what literally was responsible for creating the greatest nation in history.

They also knew, as we should by now too, it is not a path without pain or consequences. Friction is a true dichotomy because some kinds can lead to indescribable pleasure while others excruciating pain. We must accept both as a reality and stop hiding from it or running from the potential pain by putting our heads in the sand and not voting.

Voting gives us the freedom to break away from constraints, smashing through walls and glass-ceilings imposed by others, and fight on behalf of those who cannot fight for themselves. Those are the core values of what it means to be American and worth the pain.

Now go VOTE!!!

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As the Voice of the Veteran Community, The Havok Journal seeks to publish a variety of perspectives on a number of sensitive subjects. Unless specifically noted otherwise, nothing we publish is an official point of view of The Havok Journal or any part of the U.S. government.