Several decades ago, Communists set long-term objectives to undermine the United States from within. On Jan. 10, 1963, Congressman Albert S. Herlong, Jr. (D-Fla.) entered a list of 45 Communist goals into the Congressional Record. The compilation of these Communist objectives stemmed from scholarly testimony presented to Congress and from the writings of individuals who were either current or former Communists.
As Herlong highlighted, it is increasingly evident that we can no longer rely on our social institutions to champion and uphold the values of freedom and the Constitution. The reliance on these institutions to promote our founding principles has dwindled over time due to their infiltration by proponents of Communist ideologies.
For instance, once celebrated as a bastion of enlightenment, our education system, especially at the high school and collegiate levels, has morphed into a Marxist training ground. Check one off for Communism goal #17. Additionally, the mainstream media, entrusted with delivering unbiased news, now echo left-leaning narratives. Communism goal #20 accomplished. Even our government, tasked with safeguarding our God-given rights as enshrined in the U.S. Constitution, has faltered in upholding our founding principles, thereby fulfilling Communist goals #29 and #30.
On Dec. 28, 1862, Frederick Douglass delivered a speech in Rochester, NY, titled "The Day of Jubilee Comes." In this address, Douglass emphasized the importance of remaining vigilant in the pursuit of freedom, stating that it was not the time for advocates of freedom to become complacent. “This is no time for the friends of freedom to fold their hands and consider their work at an end. The price for Liberty is eternal vigilance,” Douglass said, underscoring the perpetual nature of the struggle for freedom. Liberty requires active engagement, and constant vigilance to protect it from threats and ensure its preservation for future generations.
Former President Ronald Reagan powerfully emphasized this point years later. "Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction,” he said. “We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same." In other words, freedom is not an automatic inheritance but a responsibility that each generation must actively pursue, defend, and pass on to the next.
"It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same" is a clarion call directed at conservative parents and grandparents to embrace their role as defenders of liberty. To achieve the goal outlined by Reagan, conservatives must employ a persuasive message of liberty that is so robust that the left can’t question it, can’t attack it, and can’t defeat it. This message of freedom finds its essence in none other than America’s greatest messenger of liberty, Frederick Douglass.
For those of us dedicated to the cause of freedom, the diminishing reliability of our social institutions highlights the crucial responsibility we bear as the ultimate defenders of freedom. To effectively convey the message of liberty, we must possess the ability to refute the false, alluring, and misleading narrative of Marxism. This involves not only instilling in the next generation a deep understanding of the principles of freedom, but also equipping them with a liberty message enabling them to skillfully defend and articulate their conservative viewpoint. We must integrate Douglass’ liberty message into the political discourse.
Given Douglass' profound understanding of the oppressive nature of slavery, his message of liberty emerges as the most powerful weapon in the fight for freedom. I advance that message in my latest book, “Telling Conservatives the Truth," providing an action handbook for conservatives in hopes of empowering and equipping them to become better messengers of liberty in the battle against communism.
To contact KCarl or request a speaking engagement, go to www.kcarlinc.com The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of 1819 News. To comment, please send an email with your name and contact information to Commentary@1819News.com.
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning.
